What 'elite' quality is Texas A&M lacking to contend for an SEC Title?
Texas A&M's 2025 football team will need to answer several burning questions before the season begins, but if we're being honest, nothing matches the need for redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Marcel Reed's need to improve as a pocket passer to pair with his already elite skill set as a runner.
This is both an internal and national perspective, as nearly every one of us who covers the Aggies knows that outside Reed's development in the passing game, Texas A&M's roster is talented and deep enough at nearly every position to contend in the SEC in 2025, but as we all know, quarterback play usually determines every team's success, and entering his second year at the helm, head coach Mike Elko OC Collin Klein are under pressure to get him up to snuff.
Advertisement
In a recent article by Bama Hammer, author John Mitchell listed Texas A&M as one of four SEC teams that are considered contenders, but lack one elite quality, including LSU's offensive line, South Carolina's running game, and Ole Miss's new quarterback, Austin Simmons. For the Aggies, it's no surprise that Mitchell mentioned Marcel Reed's pocket passing as the weakness that could result in Texas A&M finishing 8-4, or worse next season.
"Texas A&M ran out of gas down the stretch last season, but Mike Elko seems to have the ball rolling in the right direction in College Station. Like Ole Miss, 2025 will depend a lot on what they get out of the QB position. Marcel Reed is one of the most dynamic running QBs in the country, but has he grown enough as a passer to maintain offensive balance? He should have plenty of help at WR as the Aggies added NC State's KC Concepcion and Mississippi State's Mario Craver in the Transfer Portal. We know Elko will field an aggressive defense, but if the Aggies want to be a legitimate threat in the SEC, Reed will have to make that leap."
Leaping a passer is never guaranteed for some dual-threat quarterbacks, but Collin Klein's system, built around the run game, play action, and the intermediate passing game provides Reed an easier pathway to gaining a rhythm in the pocket during the first two games of the season before taking on Notre Dame on the road in Week 3.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Will QB Marcel Reed's passing prevent Texas A&M from success in 2025?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What is Alabama football path to 2025 SEC championship? What metrics show
ESPN's College Football Power Index gives Alabama football a fighting chance at an SEC title. The Crimson Tide has the third-best FPI, the fourth-best chance to make the College Football Playoff and the third-best chance to win a national championship. And the odds are just as good for Alabama to secure its 35th SEC title. Advertisement Alabama, per the FPI metrics, has a 17.2% chance of winning the SEC in 2025 behind Texas (34.1%) and Georgia (26.9%). With the 10th-toughest schedule in college football, what could be Alabama's path to an SEC title? Here are three things Crimson Tide fans should watch out for based on ESPN's FPI rankings: Alabama could enter SEC championship with two losses Texas and Georgia, the two teams with the best chances of reaching the SEC championship game, are projected to finish the regular season — including a possible conference title game — with two losses. The Bulldogs, which won the SEC championship in 2024, did so with regular-season losses to the Crimson Tide and Ole Miss. Advertisement ESPN's FPI rankings project Alabama to finish the 2025 regular season with 2.8 losses, slightly more than the Longhorns (2.1) and Georgia (2.3). SEC championship teams shouldn't be expected to arrive in Atlanta without a scratch. Alabama at Georgia could be turning point in SEC championship race Just like 2024, the storyline surrounding Alabama's opening SEC game against Georgia will likely be its SEC championship implications. Head-to-head against the Bulldogs could play a big factor in who reaches the SEC title game. And while both Alabama and Georgia each have long conference schedules after facing off — something the Crimson Tide knows well — the trajectory of each team in 2025 could be decided in Athens. Alabama football month-long stretch may decide SEC championship hopes Alabama vs. Georgia may put the Crimson Tide on its SEC championship trajectory. But one five-week stretch will definitively set Alabama's path toward or away from Atlanta. Advertisement After starting its conference schedule at Georgia, vs. Vanderbilt and at Missouri, Alabama will face a four-game stretch against teams ranked in the top-16 in FPI: Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU and Oklahoma. Even if Alabama falls to Georgia, or loses to Vanderbilt or Missouri, one single loss will not change the importance of the Crimson Tide's Oct. 18-to-Nov. 15 stretch, one that will define Alabama as either an SEC championship game favorite, or a team that is fighting for its College Football Playoff life. Alabama football schedule 2025 Alabama at Florida State; Aug. 30, 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida Alabama vs Louisiana Monroe; Sept. 6, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 6:45 p.m., SEC Network Alabama vs. Wisconsin; Sept. 13, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 11 a.m., ABC or ESPN Alabama at Georgia; Sept. 27, Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia Alabama vs. Vanderbilt; Oct. 4, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama at Missouri; Oct. 11, Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri Alabama vs. Tennessee; Oct. 18, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama at South Carolina; Oct. 25, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina Alabama vs. LSU; Nov. 8, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama vs. Oklahoma; Nov. 15, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama vs. Eastern Illinois; Nov. 22, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama at Auburn; Nov. 29, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football path to SEC championship according to ESPN FPI metrics
Associated Press
17 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season indicating otherwise. Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers' 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he's 'kind of through with' returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers' organized team activities. 'Of course, I'm open to it,' Nixon said. 'I'm always going to do what the team needs.' Nixon's reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that 'I want to be CB1' and added that 'CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.' 'That's a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,' Nixon said Tuesday. 'I meant what I said, but I'm also a team player. And if the coach and the team need me to do something, I'm going to do it, for sure.' Nixon also wasn't happy with the impact of the dynamic kickoff format that took effect last season. Nixon averaged 29.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season and fumbled the opening kickoff of that playoff loss. He had 35 kickoff returns in 2022 and 30 in 2023. NFL owners voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 this season, but Nixon has doubts about whether that will lead to more returns. He believes teams still won't want to risk the possibility that he makes a big play. 'The rule change don't matter,' Nixon said. 'I don't think they'll fully kick me the ball. They'd rather (us) get it at the 35 than give it at the 50.' The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who has 45 career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay drafted – Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third – had experience returning kicks in college. Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year. His role expanded when two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander played just seven games because of injuries to his knee, quadriceps and groin. Alexander remains on Green Bay's roster, but isn't present for organized team activities as his future with the team remains uncertain. 'I love to play with Jaire,' Nixon said. 'That's just what it is since I've been here. Jaire pushed me to be really who I am because it's always friendly competition between me and him. Whatever happens, happens. We don't have control over that. If he's here, we're going to rock out. If he's not, we're still going to rock out.' Whether or not Alexander plays for the Packers this season, Nixon figures to have major responsibilities on defense again. After most of his previous defensive snaps came as a nickel, Nixon showed an ability to adapt to a new assignment last year. 'To his credit, he's shown a lot of versatility, you know, in terms of how we've used him in the past, switching him from inside to outside,' coach Matt LaFleur said. 'I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.' The 27-year-old Nixon believes he still has plenty of room to grow as he enters his seventh NFL season since he played so little defense early in his career. Nixon started his career with Oakland in 2019 and never played more than 15% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in any of his three seasons with them before joining the Packers in 2022. He played 94.1% of Green Bay's defensive snaps last season. 'I don't feel like I'm an old guy yet,' Nixon said. 'I'm in year seven, but my body feels like I'm on year four. Because with the Raiders, I don't feel like I was really on the team, for real. I was just making money, I guess. It's just what it was. When I got here, I feel like I was a rookie.' NOTES: DL Kenny Clark said he underwent surgery on his right foot after the season as he dealt with bunions and bone spurs. Clark, who has been limited in OTAs, says he injured the foot during the Packers' season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. … DL Lukas Van Ness said he wore a full cast up until 'about week 10 or 11' while playing with a broken right thumb last year. ___ AP NFL:
Forbes
25 minutes ago
- Forbes
How To Make Money Podcasting: 5 Tips From "The Fantasy Footballers"
The Fantasy Footballers Sirius XM With more than five million podcasts in circulation globally, it can be difficult for creators to break through and build a profitable show. But for the hosts of one of the top fantasy football podcasts in the country, the formula for success and making money has been rooted in authenticity, trust, and smart business decisions. Here's how " The Fantasy Footballers" built a thriving podcast brand — and what other creators can learn from their approach. "A big driver of our success is the deep trust and authenticity we've built with our listeners and fans," the hosts said. "At its core, we're just being ourselves." The show started organically as conversations between friends who had worked together for years. "The three of us have worked together for years, so we've had the chemistry you hear on the show today from many lunch conversations over the years. The show is just those lunch convos… with microphones. We are essentially listeners' fantasy football buddies." That familiarity and camaraderie have helped attract and retain a loyal audience. "That authenticity is what's built our audience, and once they find us, they tend to stick around," they said. Rather than limiting its content to a single platform, the podcast team expanded its presence across multiple channels, including audio, YouTube, and social media. "Since the beginning, we've met our audience where they are – whether that's audio, YouTube or social," the hosts said. In 2024, they announced an exclusive partnership with SiriusXM, a move that further expanded their reach and opened up new opportunities to monetize. "Every episode of our show also airs on SiriusXM's Fantasy Sports Radio channel," they said. "It's another awesome way to get our content out there and reach even more fantasy football fans." They also create exclusive, standalone content for the SiriusXM app, designed to give listeners a deeper level of insider access. "The power of podcasting is in the ability to connect with fans in a truly authentic and meaningful way," said Lizzie Collins, senior vice president and head of B2B marketing at SiriusXM Media. "Andy, Jason and Mike of The Fantasy Footballers really embody that, and we're proud to support their growth across platforms through Creator Connect." "Trust with listeners and brands is essential to securing and maintaining impactful sponsorships and monetization," the hosts said. "Our fans spend time with us every day as we help them navigate their leagues and win championships. That builds real trust over time – and because we're selective with advertisers, our endorsements carry weight with the audience." One example is a branded segment called "Raising Cane's Rising Stars," sponsored by the fast-food chain Raising Cane's, which highlights emerging NFL players. "About 90% of our brand partners return to sponsor future segments because our integrations run deep and our audience connects their love for the show with our genuine enthusiasm for the brands and products we endorse," they said. Their continued success with advertisers underscores a larger trend — that fantasy football is no longer a niche hobby but part of a growing, multibillion-dollar industry. Their top piece of money advice for fellow creators is to focus on the opportunities that matter most. "Sometimes you have to say 'no' or 'not yet' – focus on the opportunities that make the most impact," they said. "The 80/20 principle is key to our business. Opportunities come from all over the place, but you need to focus on your primary disciplines and select your partnerships and opportunities carefully to maximize impact." By keeping a tight focus on their core content and audience, they've avoided distractions and scaled their show in a sustainable way. For these hosts, success is about more than downloads or dollars. "We're all family guys. Each of us has three kids," they said. "Being able to create a company centered around something we are all passionate about — fantasy football — and creating a show that we're happy for our kids and families to listen to has been an incredible opportunity that represents a 'richer life' to us." Whether you're just starting a podcast or looking to take your show to the next level, the path to monetization is built on connection, consistency, and credibility.
