Texas A&M’s return path to the College Football Playoff looks a lot cleaner when you break it down into the basics: protect the ball, settle the offensive line, and let the talent at receiver do what it was brought in to do.
That journey starts next Saturday at Kyle Field, with Week 0 already in the books and the Aggies’ lead-up to Week 1 officially underway. Head coach Mike Elko and his staff spent the offseason reworking the spots they believed needed the most help, and the roster now has multiple stars positioned to fill those gaps.
Quarterback Marcel Reed sits at the center of it all. Ball security has been one of the biggest talking points around this team, and Reed has spent the offseason answering for it through spring and fall camp. By Elko’s account, the growth has been obvious.
“I think he is much more comfortable,” Elko mentioned. ”Much more confident.
Knows the reads. Knows what the progressions need to look like.
I think his footwork looks cleaner. The ball delivery looks cleaner.
Again, excited for him.”
Reed is now working behind what is almost a completely rebuilt offensive line, so the pressure on him will come with a different look this season. How he handles traffic, keeps his mobility intact and makes smart decisions with the football will go a long way toward determining how far the Aggies can push.
The turnover numbers from last year tell the story clearly enough. Reed threw 12 interceptions, and four of those came in the final two games.
The problems weren’t his alone, either. Texas A&M also had 11 fumbles, with five lost, and those giveaways helped stall drives at key moments.
Clean that up, and the path to the postseason gets a lot more manageable.
The offensive line remains the next major question. Only one starter from last year’s group is expected to be in the mix for first-team live reps, which leaves four spots open and plenty to sort out in camp. Mark Nabou Jr. is the veteran presence in the room and will need to be the voice that keeps everything moving in the right direction.
There are still battles playing out in fall camp, and nothing has been locked in for the first series. Tyree Adams, Trovon Baugh, Coen Echols and Wilkin Formby have all been part of the conversation for jobs, while Lamont Rogers, Coen Echols, Blake Ivy and Tyler Thomas are also pushing hard for those snaps.
Whoever ends up in the lineup, the assignment is straightforward: protect Reed, open space in the run game and make the offense easier to operate. Texas A&M has the pieces at guard, tackle and center to get that done, but it will take work and cohesion to make it all click.
The most obvious strength on the roster might be the wide receiver group. There’s speed, there’s polish and there’s plenty of room for explosive plays. Even with KC Concepcion no longer on the team, the Aggies still have Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman and Terry Bussey, all of whom have been building chemistry with Reed.
And now there’s another downfield weapon in the mix. Isaiah Horton arrived after entering the transfer portal, and his catch radius gives Texas A&M something it has been missing. Pair that with the route-running from the returning veterans, and the group has a chance to be one of the best in the SEC.
If Reed takes care of the football, if the line comes together and if the receivers live up to their billing, Texas A&M gives itself a real shot to let the defense in Year 3 under Elko do its part and finish the job. That’s the formula. That’s the road back to the CFP.
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