Texas A&M heads into its third and final non-conference game of the regular season this weekend with a lot still hanging in the balance against The Citadel.
Mike Elko and head coach Maurice Drayton are each trying to get a response from their teams, and both sides have something to prove. The Bulldogs come in at 2-4, while the Aggies sit at 3-3, leaving both programs in need of a win to steady things.
One of the biggest questions around Texas A&M is whether there will be any shakeup at quarterback. Elko has not publicly said if that position will change, and for now Marcel Reed remains the starter. Reed has taken a clear step in the wrong direction and regressed since the 11-2 season, and Texas A&M needs a far better version of him if the offense is going to get moving.
That puts a lot of pressure on the passing game, especially with no run game and a limited threat through the air. The Aggies need to control the ball, win first-and-third downs, and lean on a defense that has carried too much of the load already. If Reed doesn’t deliver, a Southern conference quarterback looking to make a monumental statement could seize the spotlight.
Special teams could also swing things, and the kicking duel is one of the cleaner matchups on the board. Texas A&M’s David Olano has been perfect so far, and the Aggies have appreciated that after last year’s up-and-down season with two kickers. Olano has made all 19 of his extra-point attempts, and his longest field goal this season came from 57 yards.
The Citadel has its own reliable option in Evan Kiely, a junior from Turlock, California. He has converted all 14 of his extra points, and his season long is 45 yards. Both kickers have already shown range, with each connecting from at least 45 yards, so their legs could matter again on Saturday.
The ground game gives this matchup another layer. Rueben Owens and Gavin Garcia both enter the game with more than 70 carries, and both backs bring a physical style that can wear on a defense. They are power runners who also show patience, discipline and speed.
Garcia has handled 111 carries for 579 yards and six touchdowns. Owens has 74 carries for 304 yards and one touchdown. Whichever one gets more help from his offensive line and breaks through first could end up tilting the game toward his offense.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Suddenly Faces A Lineup Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Texas A&M heads into its game against The Citadel with a deeper health concern than it first appeared, as seven more players are set to miss the matchup because of injury. That adds to an already thinning roster that had been without Terry Bussey and Blake Ivy, and it means the Aggies will be leaning heavily on younger players to fill some key spots.
Six of the seven new absences are starters, which is where the real concern starts to show. Even with a manageable opponent on paper, Texas A&M is trying to navigate injuries while keeping enough depth intact for the tougher stretch ahead, and this week offers another reminder that the roster is being tested in ways the Aggies cant really afford. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Saw Something Encouraging In A Blowout That Fans Needed
Texas A&M got the kind of get-right game it needed against The Citadel, and the larger takeaway went beyond just padding the win column. The Aggies picked up their fourth victory of the season, but the most useful part of the afternoon was the way a few young pieces kept showing up in spots that matter, with Jamarrion Morrow and KJ Edwards each giving the staff something to point to moving forward.
The defense also had an encouraging stretch, even with The Citadel moving the ball on the ground enough to top 100 rushing yards. Texas A&M still kept the scoreboard clean, and that kind of response matters when a team is trying to steady itself after a few uneven weeks. Add in the reliability of David Olano on kicks, plus the fact that some players were unavailable, and it was the sort of game that offered more than a lopsided final score. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Cannot Afford Another Slow Start Against The Citadel
Texas A&M heads into its final non-conference game with a familiar warning sign in front of it: no slow starts. The Aggies have been reminded plenty this season that even against an opponent with a 2-4 record, the opening script matters, and The Citadel has already shown enough to keep things from feeling routine. Maurice Draytons team has the kind of defensive backbone that can make a favorite work, with Zyion Brown and Maurice Bonneau Jr. among the names giving that side some credibility.
The bigger concern for Texas A&M is that The Citadels offense has not always needed to be efficient to stay in the fight, especially with Quentin Hayes and Nick Billoups rotating at quarterback. Hayes has provided a little of everything with his passing and running, and the Bulldogs have at least one upset on the rsum to lean on if the game gets tight early. For the Aggies, the matchup is less about the opponents record than the chance to avoid letting a winnable game turn into an unnecessary test. [Read more 🡒]