The Texas A&M Aggies- forever the bridesmaids, never quite the bride. Barring sporadic bursts of fervor and prominence, the Aggies haven’t quite cultivated much. They’ve historically been ancillary to their more renowned and successful contemporaries in the southeast. Often an afterthought in the SEC- if that. Something that became more glaring post UT’s realignment to the conference. Now conceded, the Aggies’ predicament of continual mediocrity isn’t for the lack of trying. The school has expended plenty of revenue and resources to force a change in perception and performance. But they needed a messiah, and in came HC Mike Elko. Year 1 of the Elko era entailed moments of greatness and moments of growth alike. Heading into Year 2, there’s an air of positivity around College Station.

At one stage last season, the Aggies seemed destined for the inaugural 12-team playoffs. However, that maroon and white hype train wavered off track down the stretch. Somewhat expected when you’ve got a redshirt freshman under center who got thrust into the lineup on short notice. QB1 Marcel Reed now has a year’s experience under his belt. But what good is a quarterback without potent weapons in his supporting cast? Mike Elko has dipped into the transfer portal and bolstered his receiving corps. with the likes of KC Concepcion. However, it’s another position group on offense that’s piquing the attention of a CFB media member.

2024 may have been the Year of the Dragon, but over in the USA, it was the year of the running back. The position was life support, according to some extremists, believing the evolution of the sport towards pass-centric offenses makes tailbacks obsolete. However, players across both the collegiate level and the NFL have resuscitated RBs back into vogue. Who’d have thought that complimenting the passing game with a rushing threat is still a recipe for success. With Marcel Reed very much a dual-threat QB, Mike Elko and the Aggies’ offense can unlock a dynamic conducive to success with good players in the backfield. According to SEC Unfiltered’s Cole Thompson, Elko doesn’t just have a good RB room- he has one of the best ones in the conference. A 3-headed monster in Amari Daniels, Reuben Owens, and Le’Veon Moss.

Guesting over the “College Football Addiction” YouTube channel, Thompson delved into which SEC teams boast the best rush attacks in 2025. “A team that’s kind of flying under the radar, which is really interesting to me, [is] Texas A&M. [They have] three guys that all could be starting running backs in most conferences,” remarked Thompson.  He implied how injuries to Moss and Daniels last season mean they’re collectively being slept on. If indeed things click within this trifecta, a lot of pressure will be alleviated off Marcel Reed and, by extension, Mike Elko. Thompson proceeded to outline what kind of statistical production he expects from these 3.

“They may not have a 1800-yard rusher. [But the 3 guys are] going to finish anywhere between 750-800 rushing yards, about 7-9 touchdowns, and 5.5-6 yards per play,” he claimed. “That will wear down defenses in the SEC and eventually allow you to open up the passing attack…So I’m very bullish on what you have right now,” added Cole Thompson. That sure will be music to the ears of the 12th Man. Having multiple contributors rather than relying on one player seems ideal. Spread your chips and protect yourself from a disaster owing to injury. While also surrounding your talented but relatively inexperienced QB with help on multiple fronts. This segues into Mike Elko’s take on what facet Marcel Reed needs to improve upon between now and fall.

Mike Elko points to an aspect of Marcel Reed’s repertoire that has room for growth

A season is an eternity in College Football. When Conner Weigman went down with an injury and Marcel Reed was forced into being the starter, A&M fans weren’t very confident. This didn’t change after a couple of shaky performances out of the gate. But Reed progressively got better with time. This steady improvement is what’s making the Aggies faithful hope for a sophomore leap rather than a slump. 

“Marcel [Reed] has been good. Obviously, it’s early. There is still a lot to do. He has embraced the challenge in taking the next step…He knows, and he wants to throw the football better. He’s meeting that challenge head-on,” said Mike Elko during his spring presser. As is the case with most freshman QBs, the scrambling and designed runs come sooner than the nuances of the passing game. He recorded a lowly 61% completion rate last season. But with the trajectory Reed displayed in 2024, you’d expect him to get better through the air.

Is Marcel Reed the next Johnny Manziel when it comes to his passing proficiency? Likely not. But can he get it up to an adequate level to bolster both his own rush threat and that of his running backs? Absolutely. With both he and Mike Elko entering Year 2 in power together, their success and shortcomings are fascinatingly interlinked. The signs do bode well for the pair.