Spring practice prepares athletes for the 12-game regular season ahead. While most will end their season in late November, a select few will see their campaign continue. In recent years, the practices have also become a platform for transfers to share their reasons for joining new teams. One notable example is a transfer whose intra-conference move surprised many in the football world.
Why Alabama Transfer Isaiah Horton Believes in Texas A&M Quarterback Marcel Reed
After leaving Tuscaloosa, Horton faced several choices for his next destination. Ultimately, he decided on College Station and Texas A&M.
As a member of the Crimson Tide, the pass-catcher caught 42 passes for 511 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns. As he expresses in this tweet, his belief in their signal caller played a major role.
Alabama WR transfer Isaiah Horton on why he came to Texas A&M: “I believe in coach Elko, the culture he’s building here, I believe in Marcel Reed. … I believe in him with all my heart, and I believe in this program, and I believe in this culture.” pic.twitter.com/PP8b8aB9kH
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) April 2, 2026
“Alabama WR transfer Isaiah Horton on why he came to Texas A&M: “I believe in Coach Elko, the culture he’s building here, I believe in Marcel Reed. … I believe in him with all my heart, and I believe in this program, and I believe in this culture.””
Horton is now at his third college program and will play his final season in another offensive scheme. Yet, his belief, in his own words, led him to campus. This trust comes as Reed has statistically improved each season, both as a passer and a rusher.
Building on Reed’s progress, the Aggies opened up the offense last year, giving Reed more opportunities to throw.
During his first season as a starter, Reed attempted 240 passes. Last year, that number jumped to 377. The added throws helped the dual-threat quarterback increase his yards per attempt average from 7.8 to 8.4.
However, increasing Reed’s passing opportunities also came with drawbacks. Reed threw 12 interceptions and went 11 quarters without a passing touchdown, including a rivalry loss to Texas and a 3-point effort in a College Football Playoff loss to Miami. Despite these struggles late in the season, the Aggies landed at the No. 27 spot in the PFSN CFB Offense Impact Rankings.
Despite their run-heavy reputation, the Aggies still depend on Reed to move the ball through the air. Horton joins the team at a pivotal moment.
Slot wideout KC Concepcion, Reed’s favorite target, left for the NFL Draft. Horton’s arrival could prompt a slight adjustment in the offensive approach, with a heavier reliance on the slot to handle the bulk of passes. Additionally, Horton will bookend Mario Craver on the outside.
Even with the influx of four incoming freshman wide receivers, Horton should not face much competition for snaps, as TAMU has plenty of options behind him.
Looking ahead, Horton and Reed will use spring practices to build chemistry before the season begins. The Aggies start with three home games against Missouri State, Arizona State, and Kentucky before heading to Baton Rouge for their first true test against LSU.
