The Texas A&M offense came into Saturday needing a reset, and the Citadel provided exactly that in a 41-0 Aggies win. The quarterback situation still didn’t exactly solve itself, but several players made sure the day came with some real positives.
Running back EJ Smith was the biggest spark on the ground. He has already been one of the few reliable bright spots on an offense that has struggled to generate much excitement, and he was the most explosive runner in the game by a mile.
Smith carried the ball 13 times for 116 yards, good for an eye-popping 8.9 yards per carry. His best burst came on a 34-yard run, the second-longest play of the game for either team.
He was the only Aggies back with double-digit carries and the only one to clear 60 rushing yards. Smith continues to look like one of the most important pieces of this offense.
Through the air, Aaron Gregory took center stage. With Mario Craver out, Isaiah Horton looked like the natural candidate to become the main target, but Gregory ended up filling that role instead.
He caught a touchdown from both Marcel Reed and Brady Hart, finishing with six receptions for 94 yards on eight targets. Gregory averaged 15.7 yards per catch and also had one drop, but he was still the clear top option in the passing game.
Gregory’s ability to connect with both quarterbacks stood out and may earn him more opportunities going forward.
On the defensive side, safety Tawfiq Byard made the most of a chance to step up. Texas A&M’s secondary had been a quiet talking point lately, and with some key pieces sidelined, Byard delivered a strong outing.
He tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including two solo stops, and added 1.5 tackles for loss - his first of the season. It was also his second-highest tackle total in a game.
Byard was especially effective against the run, helping set the tone as a steady force against the Citadel’s offensive line.
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Texas A&M Suddenly Faces A Lineup Problem Fans Can't Ignore
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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 Faces One Frustrating Test It Can't Flunk Against The Citadel
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Marcel Reed will be the most watched name on the Aggies side, with kicker David Olano and running back Gavin Garcia also part of the important details. The Citadel brings its own pieces to track, including kicker Evan Kiely and running back Rueben Owens, and the matchup offers Texas A&M a final chance to look sharper in the areas that tend to decide games it should control. What the Aggies cannot afford is a flat afternoon that leaves more questions than answers heading into the stretch run. [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 🡒]