Texas A&M got the outcome everybody expected against The Citadel, but the real storyline was Marcel Reed. The Aggies handled business, and the question hanging over the afternoon was whether Reed could start looking more like himself again. He didn’t put together a perfect game, but he gave Texas A&M enough to feel better about where things stand.
Reed’s final line was 8 of 13 for 130 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. The raw totals were ordinary, but the way he threw the ball told a different story. When Texas A&M asked him to work as a passer, he looked much sharper than he has at other points this season.
The biggest positive came on the deep ball. A couple of throws to the opposite hash weren’t especially clean, but when Reed had to take a shot downfield, the results were noticeably better. That was the kind of progress Texas A&M needed to see.
There was also a clear effort to feature the designed quarterback run game for Reed, something that has been missing from the offense so far this year. If that becomes a bigger part of the plan going forward, it could help everything else open up for him when he drops back.
What made Reed’s day even more encouraging was how cleanly every drive he touched ended. Texas A&M scored touchdowns on all four of its first-half possessions, and those series were driven by Reed’s arm rather than simply carried by the run game.
Still, the ground attack had plenty to show off too. Jamarion Morrow looked like his fully healthy self again, bringing the burst and shifty movement that add another layer to the backfield.
KJ Edwards was productive as well, breaking off a few runs with real juice. If The Citadel hadn’t been playing so deep, he might have popped a run longer than 90 yards.
Instead, his longest carry went for 34 yards, which was still enough to underline how explosive he can be.
Carsyn Baker added some tough yardage too, while Rueben Owens finished with only two carries. That kind of usage points to a strong commitment to the youth on this roster, which is exactly what a lot of fans wanted to see heading into this game.
The same was true on defense. Texas A&M mixed in plenty of younger players there as well, and while the unit didn’t stack up a bunch of flashy plays, that’s often what happens against a triple-option team like The Citadel. The bigger point was that the Aggies were suffocating, and the shutout backed that up.
Brady Hart had his moments, but he didn’t control the offense the way Reed did. Hart looked solid when he stayed composed, yet there were stretches where he seemed too rattled against an FCS defense. That’s not exactly a reassuring sign with Alabama waiting next week in Tuscaloosa.
At this point, the case seems pretty straightforward: Texas A&M should start Reed against the Tide, not Hart. Whatever the chatter has been, Reed quieted some of it here.
In Other News...
Texas A&M May Have Found Something On Offense At The Right Time
A lopsided win over The Citadel gave Texas A&M a chance to clean up some offensive rhythm, and the Aggies took it. In a 41-0 non-conference victory in Week 7, Texas A&M piled up 501 yards while the defense kept The Citadel to 183 total yards, a performance that looked more like the balance the Aggies have been searching for as the schedule gets tougher.
Marcel Reed continued to settle in at quarterback, pushing his completion rate to 62 percent and connecting with Aaron Gregory for a touchdown. Jamarion Morrow added the kind of red-zone punch this offense can lean on, scoring three times in a game where the Aggies did just about everything cleanly. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-week reset or the start of something more useful for Texas A&M moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces One Offensive Decision That Could Change Alabama Game
Texas A&M took care of business with a 41-0 win over The Citadel, but the bigger challenge is coming fast with Alabama next on the schedule. As the Aggies shift from a comfortable nonconference result to a far more demanding SEC test, one offensive question stands out: how aggressively should they lean into quarterback Marcel Reed as a runner?
Reeds ability to add value on designed running plays has become a point of interest after the recent stretch of games, and it could influence how much strain Texas A&M is able to put on Alabamas defense. The idea is still speculative, but it speaks to a broader issue for the Aggies as they look for ways to make their offense more consistent against a tougher opponent. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Showed Which Aggies Are Ready To Lead Right Now
Texas A&Ms 41-0 win over The Citadel was the kind of afternoon that can tell a coach a lot beyond the scoreboard. In a lopsided game, the Aggies still got meaningful proof that some of their veterans and playmakers are settling into bigger roles, with the ground game, passing attack and defense all showing clear signs of reliable leadership.
The running back who piled up 116 yards on 13 carries gave the offense a steady edge, while the receiver who snagged six balls for 94 yards and two touchdowns kept turning routine possessions into points. On the other side of the ball, a safety who finished with seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss helped set the tone, giving Texas A&M a glimpse of which players are ready to carry more of the load as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]