Texas A&M didn’t need much help in a 41-0 win over The Citadel, but the Aggies may have found something useful anyway: a couple of young receivers making a case for bigger roles.
Freshman Aaron Gregory and sophomore TK Norman both flashed in Saturday’s blowout, and Norman in particular gave Mike Elko plenty to talk about after the game. Gregory caught two touchdowns, while Norman posted a career-best five receptions for 88 yards and helped finish off one of Texas A&M’s four first-half scoring drives with an impressive sideline grab.
Marcel Reed played the entire first half and went 8-for-13 for 130 yards and a touchdown, but the bigger takeaway for some observers was the growing comfort level between the quarterback and his younger targets. Gregory and Norman, both from Georgia, stood out in a passing game that has struggled under first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins, with the offense taking a clear step back from last season’s historic production.
Norman’s rise also comes at a time when Texas A&M’s receiver depth chart has been shifted by circumstances. Ashton Bethel-Roman has been out for unexplained reasons, and Mario Craver was sidelined Saturday because of injury issues.
At Monday’s press conference, Elko singled out Norman’s work and pointed to the progress he has made.
"He's a kid who is getting more and more comfortable with what it takes to be a wideout in this conference and at this level… It's starting to translate into his play a little bit."
Elko also noted Norman’s work on special teams and said the former four-star prospect has improved as a route runner while making the most of his chances in the starting lineup.
Texas A&M now turns to No. 13 Alabama on the road in Week 8, and Wednesday’s weekly injury report should clarify the status of Bethel-Roman and Craver. Even if both are available, or even if only Craver returns, Norman and Gregory appear to have earned the right to stay involved on Saturday.
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Texas A&M Faces A Backfield Choice That Could Reshape The Offense
Texas A&Ms offense is spending part of camp sorting out one of the more useful problems a staff can have: too many running backs worth playing. Head coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins are weighing how to split the workload among a group that includes Jamarion Morrow, KJ Edwards and others, with each back bringing a different trait to the table.
Edwards has been the most efficient runner so far and leads the group in rushing yards, while Owens has handled the most carries and Morrow is working back from injury with a reputation for short-yardage success. The coaches have made it clear they are keeping every option on the table, and the way they settle that rotation could shape not just the backfield, but the rhythm of the entire offense moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense Is About To Test Texas A&M's Biggest Weakness
Texas A&M heads into a far bigger measuring stick after cruising past The Citadel 41-0 and turning its attention to No. 13 Alabama. The Aggies have reason for confidence on the surface, but the spotlight quickly shifts to Marcel Reed, whose road performances have been a concern throughout the season. He has taken multiple sacks away from home and has struggled to generate consistent passing efficiency, leaving Texas A&M with a clear question as it steps into a much tougher atmosphere.
Mike Elko has already said Reed will keep the starting job, so the issue is less about a quarterback change than whether the Aggies can protect him and help him settle in against one of the better defenses on the schedule. Alabama is exactly the kind of opponent that can expose those flaws, and this game should show whether Texas A&M can hide its biggest weakness or if it will be forced to live with it for another week. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Heads To Alabama With One Big Offensive Question
Texas A&M kept rolling in Week 7 with a 41-0 shutout of The Citadel, giving the Aggies their second blanking of the season and another reminder that the ground game can carry them when things are clicking. Sophomore running back Jamarion Morrow and freshman KJ Edwards helped fuel a 264-yard rushing day, the kind of balance that has given this offense a sturdy floor even when the passing game has been less of a certainty.
Now the test gets a lot bigger with Alabama coming up Saturday, and Marcel Reed is expected to be the starter at quarterback. For the Aggies, the trip to Tuscaloosa comes with the same question that has lingered around this offense all season: can the running game hold up against a defense that is built to take it away, and can Texas A&M get enough from Reed to make the rest of the plan work? [Read more 🡒]