Texas A&M’s passing game is already thin, and the latest injury update didn’t do the Aggies any favors.
On Monday, coach Mike Elko offered no clarity on the statuses of junior wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman and sophomore Kelshaun Johnson after both missed last Saturday’s 17-9 road loss to South Carolina. That leaves their availability uncertain for Saturday’s home matchup with No. 13 Tennessee.
“No, no updates on those guys.”
Their absences were felt in Columbia, where freshman Aaron Gregory had to take on a bigger role. Texas A&M’s offense managed more than 450 yards against the Gamecocks, but the Aggies still couldn’t find the end zone for the third time in SEC play, matching the 1971 Texas A&M offense that went touchdown-less in three conference games.
Marcel Reed’s season has been rocky through the air, but he turned in his best passing performance against South Carolina, finishing 25 of 43 for 251 yards. Even so, he left points on the field, including a missed touchdown opportunity to transfer receiver Isaiah Horton, who dropped at least three passes that would have either gone for six or extended drives.
Elko also said first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins will reportedly keep his job for the rest of the season, based on the coach’s comments at Monday’s press conference. With Reed still the starter and Wiggins still calling plays, Texas A&M needs as many healthy receivers as it can get - for development, for depth, and for any chance of giving this passing game a much-needed jolt.
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For the Aggies, the bigger issue is not just that Taylor is off the board, but that the market is shifting toward retention instead of movement. More high-production quarterbacks are choosing to stay put rather than test the portal, which means Texas A&M may have to spend more aggressively than ever just to stay in the conversation for top-end help. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas A&M Has A Strength Tennessee Could Make Matter Most
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The problem has been on the other side of the ball, where yardage has not always turned into points, as the recent loss to South Carolina showed. Now comes Tennessee, and the matchup is a tricky one for a defense that has already done plenty of heavy lifting, because the Volunteers bring a rushing attack that can force exactly the kind of physical test Texas A&M has been able to avoid at times this season. [Read more 🡒]