Texas A&M’s offense has been stuck in neutral for much of the season, but freshman running back KJ Edwards has become one of the few bright spots.
After the Aggies beat The Citadel 41-0 last Saturday, their offense still sat 97th nationally, a number shaped in part by senior quarterback Marcel Reed’s uneven play. Reed has thrown six interceptions, has seven touchdowns, and has totaled 1,227 passing yards while completing 55.5% of his throws.
The ground game, though, has started to move. Texas A&M’s rushing attack is up to 63rd nationally, and Edwards has been the driving force behind that climb. Since stepping into the starting role, he has run for 317 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-best 116 yards against The Citadel.
That production has shown up in the numbers as well. Edwards earned the highest grade among FBS running backs, a 79.9 from Pro Football Focus, after Week 7.
That put him in even more elite company heading into Saturday’s road game against No. 13 Alabama, where he enters as PFF’s third-highest-graded true freshman through the first seven weeks of the season.
For Texas A&M, the path forward is pretty clear. Reed is expected to stay under center for now, which puts even more pressure on first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins to keep leaning into the run game. The Aggies also need offensive line coach Adam Cushing to help build a more flexible approach, with zone-running concepts specifically mentioned as a way to maximize Edwards’ skill set.
Edwards’ rise also fits into the bigger picture for Mike Elko’s team. He and sophomore running back Jamarion Morrow now give the Aggies what they believe is their best shot to stabilize things over the final five games.
It took longer than the fan base wanted, but Texas A&M appears to have found a back who can change the tone of the offense. Edwards has already positioned himself as the likely starter the rest of this season and, as the source material notes, heading into the 2027 season.
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KJ Edwards Injury Suddenly Looms Large For Texas A&M's Offense
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Now the focus shifts to the bye week, which gives Edwards a chance to recover before Texas A&M returns to action against South Carolina. For an offense that has leaned on his presence, the extra time matters, but it also leaves one question hanging over the Aggies: how ready will Edwards be when the team comes back from the break? [Read more 🡒]