'I'm high on Marcel Reed' ESPN broadcaster all-in on Texas A&M QB

USA Today

10 hours ago

'I'm high on Marcel Reed' ESPN broadcaster all-in on Texas A&M QB
This offseason, any time Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed receives positive press outside of the Aggie media sphere is surprising, given last season's poor 1-4 finish, which included several forgettable performances from Reed, who wasn't afforded the levity most first-year starters are given when they have bad games.
Again, this isn't surprising in today's college football landscape, where immediate results are expected when quarterbacks, especially those who were four or five-star recruits, fail to match their high school production during their first starting season. Still, Reed was trading starts with Conner Weigman last season, whose injury issues led to him transferring to Houston early in the offseason.
Texas A&M's offense, on paper at least, could end up being one of the top units in the SEC with the return of senior running back Le'Veon Moss combined with the additions of transfer wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver. On Friday, during an interview with TexAgs Live host David Nuño, ESPN play-by-play voice Roy Philpott discussed coach Mike Elko's impending second season at the helm, with a focus on offensive coordinator Collin Klein and Marcel Reed's potential improvement.
"I know the start for Elko had everyone's expectations out of whack and took it by storm. Another year of Reed and Collin Klien... Like in my conversations with Klein, he will build an offense around the quarterback and the skill set that he has. He's got interesting wide receiver weapons with KC Concepcion coming in. The development of Reed and Klein intertwines and gets a head start, knowing he's going to be the guy."
Philpott's reality-based opinion aligns with what we at Aggies Wire have been stating throughout the offseason: Year 2 under Klein should yield a significant jump in Reed's production as the full-time starter. Needing wide receivers who can take the top off a defense and make plays after the catch was also key, as Reed's short-game accuracy should lead to chunk gains with players like Concepcion and sophomore WR Terry Bussey.
"If you have multiple quarterbacks playing for an extended period of time, I don't think it goes well for you. It goes without saying that we love college football. Now more than ever, if you go to different guys, your chances of making the College Football Playoff are not good. I am high on Reed, what he brings, his skill set and Klein. That's what makes them fascinating. Klein is settling in now that he's there. He's got his guy and has to stay healthy. I'm excited to see what that's like."
As Phlipott notes, staying the course with Reed from the start of spring ball to the fall is a winning strategy that should result in continued progression, which should help Collin Klein open up the playbook to take advantage of Reed's skillset on the ground, and if the redshirt sophomore improves in the throw game, Texas A&M's offense should keep the team in every game this season.
Texas A&M will kick off the 2025 season against UTSA on Saturday, August 31.
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