Texas A&M heads into 2026 with Marcel Reed entrenched as the starter, and that stability at the top of the depth chart is a big part of the Aggies’ push to show that Mike Elko’s program is built to last.
The real intrigue in College Station has been behind Reed. The No. 2 job drew plenty of attention in fall camp, and Brady Hart is expected to come out of it as the backup. For Texas A&M, that would mean a former high-end recruit is ready if anything ever happens to the starter.
Hart is entering his second season with the Aggies after arriving as a highly regarded prospect. He was listed as the No. 21 recruit in Florida, the No. 11 quarterback in the nation and a top-135 player overall in the 2025 class.
His first year on campus was quiet, which is exactly what Texas A&M wanted with Reed rolling all season. Hart saw limited action against Utah State and Samford, finishing with 62 passing yards on 5-of-10 throws and adding one carry for nine yards.
The battle for the backup spot was not handed to him. True freshman Helaman Casuga pushed him throughout camp, and the competition had real weight because Casuga is viewed as an important part of the Aggies’ future. Hart, though, separated himself, and he also turned heads with multiple top throws during the spring game.
Texas A&M would obviously prefer not to need him in 2026 outside of lopsided games when the reserves take over. But if the Aggies ever had to turn to Hart, the arm talent is there. He can spin it, and he has the kind of throwing ability that gives a staff confidence.
The bigger adjustment would be stylistic. Reed brings a dual-threat element, able to create with his legs and extend plays, while Hart is much more of a pocket passer. If he had to take over, the offense would have to look a little different.
Still, the takeaway is simple: Texas A&M appears to trust him. That is why he’s positioned to be the No. 2 quarterback, and why the Aggies should feel comfortable if the depth chart is ever tested.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Still Has A Chance To Flip A Crucial In-State RB
Texas A&Ms running back recruiting board for the 2027 class already has a familiar name on it in SaRod Baker, the current Texas Tech commit the Aggies are still working to pry loose. The pursuit fits the way this staff has approached in-state talent before, and it also brings back memories of previous recruiting battles in which Trooper Taylor helped push a flip across the finish line.
Baker remains pledged to Texas Tech, so this is far from a simple courtship and the Red Raiders have every reason to keep holding firm. Still, the Aggies have stayed in the mix, and with a prospect of this caliber in Texas, it is the kind of long game Texas A&M cannot afford to ignore if it wants to keep stacking the states best backs. [Read more 🡒]
Marcel Reed Is Making Texas A&Ms QB Outlook A Lot Harder To Ignore
Marcel Reed has spent fall camp giving Texas A&M a much different kind of quarterback conversation than the one that followed him around earlier in his career. The athleticism was never in question, but what has stood out lately is the way hes handling the offense, making cleaner decisions and showing a sharper feel for where the ball needs to go. For a program trying to settle its quarterback outlook, that kind of development matters.
The optimism is real enough that some of the national skepticism around Reed may be getting ahead of itself. Still, camp is one thing and Saturdays are another, and Reeds next step is proving that the growth in command and accuracy carries over when the games count. Until then, Texas A&M has reason to believe the position is looking less like a question and more like a storyline worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Former LSU QB Max Johnson Adds Another Twist To His Journey
Max Johnsons college journey has taken him through some of the sports biggest stages, and now the veteran quarterback is headed into another fresh start. Georgia Southern has tabbed Johnson as its starter, setting him up for a debut against Charleston Southern before a much stiffer test against Clemson, another step in a winding career that has already included starting roles at LSU, Texas A&M and North Carolina.
For Aggies fans who remember his stop in College Station, Johnsons next chapter is another reminder of how much mileage he has put on a college arm. He brings more than six years of experience and a career line of 6,356 passing yards with 49 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, but the real intrigue now is how quickly he settles into his new home with a demanding early schedule waiting right away. [Read more 🡒]