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USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN reveals Texas A&M's 3 biggest 'ifs' ahead of the 2025 season
Texas A&M's 2025 season will continue to be met with a host of questions, and thanks to ESPN writer Bill Connelly, the three biggest "ifs" regarding the Aggies' potential success this fall have been addressed. Most of the questions are recognizable based on the content we at Aggies Wire have put out during the offseason, especially quarterback Marcel Reed's improvement as a passer, aided by a revamped wide receiver room. This concern is one of the "ifs", while Texas A&M's new defensive line, following the departures of Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Nic Scourton, is the second most significant question after head coach Mike Elko added four defensive linemen from the transfer portal, led by former Iowa State DL Tyler Odyedim. During SEC media days, Elko was seldom asked about the Aggies' secondary, which needs to improve in terms of preventing big plays and perform much better on the road. This was the final question Connelly addressed in the article. Credit to Connelly for focusing on the core issues that will make or break the Aggies in 2025 instead of discussing the Lone Star Rivalry, which is four months away. Here are Bill Connelly's three "ifs" for Texas A&M during the 2025 season: Will Texas A&M's passing game find more pop? (Connelly's words) "There's a lot to like about this A&M team. Quarterback Marcel Reed returns after producing the best QBR of any freshman in the SEC -- that's right, it wasn't LaNorris Sellers or DJ Lagway. Reed was solid in terms of both run and pass, but the Aggies' passing game wasn't very explosive. And now last season's top five pass targets are gone. Can transfers such as KC Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State) and young former blue-chippers including Terry Bussey and Ashton Bethel-Roman provide the pop the Aggies lacked?" Yes, Marcel Reed's 75.4 QBR was the best for any freshman signal caller in the SEC last season, and while KC Concepcion and Mario Craver may take time to adjust to the scheme, Terry Bussey, Ashton Bethel-Roman, and Izaiah Williams are on the right track to providing more speed to an offense that lacked notable juice throught the air last season. Will Texas A&M's new pass rush perform better than last season? "A&M ranked 19th in defensive SP+ last season -- strangely, it was the sixth time in seven years that the Aggies ranked between 16th and 21st. They defended the pass well, but they could have done it even better if they hadn't ranked 85th in sack rate. Pairing transfer pass rushers such as Dayon Hayes(Colorado) and T.J. Searcy (Florida) with returning starter Cashius Howell and, perhaps, youngsters like Rylan Kennedy and Solomon Williams could produce a strong pass rush tandem. The secondary is going to be awesome regardless, but a little more harassment up front could go a long way." This is an interesting point, noting that statistics speak loudly regarding Texas A&M's defensive lapses during the tail end of the 2024 season, which failed to produce enough pressure up front even with Stewart, Scourton, and Turner in the starting lineup. Agreeing with Connelly, Texas A&M's cornerback and safety rotation may not be considered the best in the SEC with what Alabama and Texas are returning, but it should be solid. If the new pass rush produces consistently, the Aggie defense will be highly formidable with Elko now calling plays. Will Texas A&M's secondary allow fewer big plays? "A&M ranked fourth nationally in completion rate allowed (53.3%) and 19th in interception rate (3.7%). This was an aggressive secondary, and it returns both a dynamite cornerback duo (Dezz Ricks and Will Lee III) and a pair of safeties (Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe) who are unafraid of attacking both the ball and the line of scrimmage. The arrival of Washington nickel back Jordan Shaw is exciting, too. But when opponents landed a punch, it was a haymaker. A better pass rush would tamp down on breakdowns, but if experience means A&M's secondary is even better in the risk-versus-reward department, this could be the best pass defense in the country." Connelly's praise for Texas A&M's secondary is somewhat surprising, especially for someone like me who covers the program professionally, but I understand it. Cornerbacks Will Lee III and Julian Humphrey, who Connelly confusingly did not mention, are slated to be one of the better boundary duos in the country, while former five-star Dezz Ricks and senior cornerback Tyreek Chappell will likely lead the starting unit. Former Washington cornerback Jordan Shaw has also received praise this offseason from the coaching staff and Lee, making the starting nickel spot between him and Chappell an interesting storyline this fall. At safety, Dalton Brooks is an elite athlete who needs to refine some technical aspects of his game, while Bryce Anderson and March Ratcliffe are equally athletic but also need to take the next step in their development. Working under new defensive assistant Lyle Hemphill is an underrated and underreported aspect of the secondary's likely improvement, as the former James Madison defensive coordinator was brought in to clean up the remaining issues that plagued this group last season. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M's 'old' offensive line should be the Aggies' offensive catalyst in 2025
Texas A&M's 2025 offensive line is poised to be one of the best units in the country, thanks to its experience and NFL-level talent, which will provide starting quarterback Marcel Reed and the Aggie running game a significant boost compared to last season's inconsistent performance. Throughout the offseason, head coach Mike Elko continued to praise his top seven returning offensive linemen, believing that winning in the trenches is the key to unlocking Texas A&M's offense. On Monday, during his sixth Coach's Night of the summer in San Antonio, Elko continued to praise the group, noting that, during his second-to-last season as Texas A&M's defensive coordinator before becoming Duke's head coach, the Aggies' 2025 O-line is the most experienced unit since A&M's memorable 2020 season, which included an Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina. "It's great to bring back all seven of our top offensive lineman. The last time we were this old at that position, we ended our season playing in the Orange Bowl. It's a really strong starting point to have a group like that." On paper, this is how the starting five offensive line could look when the Aggies open the 2025 season vs. UTSA: At center, Nabou is coming off another injury-riddled season and will contend with veteran Koli Faaiu for the starting job. Notable guard depth includes redshirt freshmen Ashton Funk and Blake Ivy, while five-star freshman tackle Lamont Rogers might be too talented to keep off the field. Another battle is at right tackle, as senior Reuben Fatheree is back for a final season, but will likely play behind Dametrious Crownover. Both are excellent pass protectors, so it will be tough to deny a close to equal snap count. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
HC Mike Elko understands the importance of 'finishing' during the 2025 season
Coaching in the college ranks is a constant challenge, no matter the level of experience, as good and bad years aren't simply based on play calling, as Auburn's 2010 season, led by star quarterback Cam Newton, was a team coached by Gene Chizik, who failed to produce a winning season after two years at Iowa State, but struck gold before being dismissed after a 3-9 finish in 2012. No one has matched Alabama's success under former head coach Nick Saban, while Georgia's Kirby Smart has brought home two titles and is now considered the best coach in the college ranks until further notice. For Elko, the 2024 campaign, his first as the Aggies' head coach, was just his third full season leading a program after two years with Duke, so it's fair to say he is still a small fish looking to make his way to the surface despite being one of sixteen SEC head coaches. On Thursday, Elko, alongside linebacker Taurean York, guard Ar'maj Reed-Adams, and cornerback Will Lee III, spoke to the media during SEC media days, and during Elko's time at the podium, one of the media members in attendance asked about Texas A&M's lack of late season momentum after an impressive 7-1 start resulted in an 8-5 finish, including consecutive losses to Texas at home and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. "Finishing" is a term widely used at every level of the game, as the teams that win in October and November usually make it to the postseason, and in this case, the College Football Playoff. Texas A&M has yet to earn a CFP bid since its inception, and with the 12-team expansion implemented last year, the Aggies have a shot to earn a spot in the bracket with at least nine or ten wins. However, Texas A&M's track record after September and the first half of October has been average to poor over the past six years under Jimbo Fisher. Although much of the same occurred during Elko's first season, he deserves some grace. While praising his talented 2025 roster, Elko provided a reality-based answer for how the team will attack the tough challenges in SEC Play, especially on the road. "You have to go through some of that sometimes, and as painful as it is and as painful as it was for us, our fans and everybody involved, we had never been in that position before." "You learn how you have to elevate your game in those matchups when you become that team. … Our kids have a really strong chip on their shoulder to finish that thing the right way." Texas A&M's comeback 38-23 win over LSU in Kyle Field included an early 17-7 deficit that was quickly eliminated in the second half after the Aggies' defense stepped up to force multiple turnovers, while quarterback Marcel Reed's performance off the bench included three rushing touchdowns. This team has what it takes to weather any storm this season, but that starts up front with the offensive line and the run game, both expected to be two of the best units in the country. Meanwhile, Marcel Reed's two weapons at wide receiver and tight end should create a balanced offensive approach. With Mike Elko taking over the defensive play-calling duties, broken coverages should be a thing of the past, and the pass rush should be elevated with more depth. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
'He's an athlete' Georgia QB praises Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed during SEC media days
This summer, Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed, along with a host of quarterbacks in the Power 4 conferences, took part in the annual Manny Passing Academy and reportedly shared a room with Georgia starting quarterback Gunner Stockton, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday during the Bulldogs' SEC media days appearance. Stockton, who will enter his first season as Georgia's starter after Carson Beck transferred to Miami, is well aware of the challenges in front of him, but that's just life in the SEC. This week, several quarterbacks commented on Marcel Reed's skill set, praising his dual-threat ability, while Stockton got to know him better as a person during their time at the Academy. Thanks to KBTX reporter Travis Brown, here's what Stockton had to say regarding his relationship with Marcel Reed: "Oh yeah, he was a great guy to be around, and I'm glad we have a friendship now" Stockton stated. In terms of what he brings to the field, Brown asked what stands out about Reed's game, and just like most of the defenders who faced Reed last season, it's widely agreed upon that he's one of the fastest signal callers in the country. "I remember watching him last year in a couple of games an realizing how fast he is. He's an athlete." Even though Texas A&M will now face Georgia this season, it's always interesting to see when fellow conference quarterbacks develop friendships off the field, given the intense environments that college football has to offer. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What are Texas A&M's best and worst-case scenarios in 2025?
Suppose we're talking best and worst-case scenarios for every SEC team heading into the 2025 season. In that case, Texas A&M leads the conversation based on the high preseason expectations, paired with last season's 1-4 finish after starting 7-1, and is clear in the College Football Playoff conversation. Coach Mike Elko's second season at the helm will be fairly and unfairly judged, but that's life in the SEC, and with the talent, and most importantly, experience on the 2025 roster, while redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed will be under the national microscope during his first full season as the starter. Returning all five offensive line starters from the beginning of the 2024 season, Texas A&M's loaded running back room starts and ends with senior Le'Veon Moss, with Reuben Owens, Amari Daniels, and even EJ Smith providing substantial depth that will (hopefully) help avoid last season's poor late-season finish. With the additions of KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, and Jonah Wilson at wide receiver, another position of weakness should finally rebound. However, it's A&M's defense that could be the primary strength after Elko and his staff added more depth to the 2025 D-line, led by former Iowa State defensive lineman Tyler Odyedim, who is seen as an immediate upgrade to the run defense while providing more interior pass rush. After hiring James Madison defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill, Texas A&M's secondary should also improve, especially safety Bryce Anderson, who struggled throughout the 2024 campaign. Still, it will be the upgraded cornerback room, as senior Will Lee III, Georgia transfer Julian Humphrey, Washington transfer Jordan Shaw, and senior Tyreek Chappell will be heavily depended on, while veterans Bravion Rogers and Jayvon Thomas enter the year with a final chance to make an impact. What's the best-case scenario for Texas A&M this coming season? Considering the demanding schedule, which includes road contests against Notre Dame, Arkansas, Missouri, LSU, and the Texas Longhorns, the Aggies will realistically need to finish with at least nine wins to earn a College Football Playoff bid. According to SEC Unfiltered founder/host Chris Phillips, he believes a 10-2 finish, with likely losses to LSU and Texas, is the best possible outcome, while the familiar and highly disappointing 7-5 record is the bottom of the barrel if things go south. If you ask a majority of us in Aggie media, this prediction rings true. Still, I'll continue to stick with my 9-3 mark, with road losses to either Notre Dame, LSU, or Texas at the end of the year, and a home loss to either Florida or South Carolina. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
