Texas A&M star Marcel Reed is one of the best returning quarterbacks in college football next season. Reed led the Aggies to an impressive 11-2 record last season, including clinching a much-coveted berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Despite a stellar regular season, Reed’s performances tailed off during the Aggies’ rivalry loss to the Texas Longhorns and the playoff loss to the Miami Hurricanes.
Quarterback Marcel Reed Receives Widespread Backing Ahead of Pivotal Season
While speaking to reporters after spring practice on Tuesday, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko expressed his belief in Reed’s playing experience as the program’s QB1 and ability to understand the Aggies’ game plan ahead of a pivotal 2026 season.
“He now has a full season under his belt. He has been through the wringer,” Elko said. “He has 18, or probably close to it, career starts. That allows you to really hone in on him. You’re really able to specify the plan to him. He has spent a lot of time with coach (Joey) Lynch.”
Despite being a four-star recruit in the class of 2023, Reed started his Aggies career as the fourth-string quarterback, behind Jaylen Henderson, Max Johnson, and Conner Weigman, forcing him to redshirt his freshman season.
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He gradually moved up the depth chart and was Weigman’s backup in 2024 before fully taking over as Texas A&M’s QB1 after leading a scintillating Week 9 comeback against the LSU Tigers.
Last season was Reed’s first full season as a starter, and he nudged himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation before his performances tailed off toward the end of the season.
Reed further received the support of former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2012. During last week’s segment of the “Glory Daze” podcast, Manziel blasted Aggies fans for their criticism of Reed and urged them to support him next season.
“I believe we still didn’t have our best running back until the Miami game, we had an ever-shifting, revolving door of running backs and some injuries here and there,” Manziel said. “For Marcel Reed, he needs to continue developing as a passer. He needs to develop with the receivers and we will be better this year.
“I hate it when people say, ‘We’ve got this new quarterback coming in,’ or ‘We need to play the backup.’ Shut the hell up! Support a guy, the way you supported me. You supported me with the rock to lead our program. Marcel has done a good job of progressing as a football player and as a leader and it’s everything that you’d want.”
Reed earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 83.6 after tallying 3,169 passing yards, resulting in 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while adding 493 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.
