Mike Elko highlights on-field growth from Marcel Reed during offseason

After splitting time as the starter last season, Texas A&M‘s Marcel Reed heads into 2025 season as the undisputed QB1. In 11 games played, Reed passed for 1,864 yards, 15 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also added 543 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Prior to last season, Reed played in just three games in 2023 as a true freshman. He completed 21 of his 36 passes for 374 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Two years later, he has officially earned the job and will be taking the first snap of the season for the Aggies against UTSA.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko discussed Reed’s on-field growth over the offseason during a media opportunity on Tuesday. Elko is heading into his second season at A&M (led the Aggies to an 8-5 record last season).

“I think he’s a lot more comfortable going through the progressions,” Elko said. “When you talk about passing game and there’s a lot of conversation that gets had about separation and guys getting open. So much of the passing game is timing and rhythm. That’s what, as coaches studying everyday, those are things that you’re trying to see. Are the eyes getting to the windows at the same time the routes are getting to the windows? That’s a lot of how we’re going to improve our passing game is just an overall efficiency of timing and operation. I think THAT is coming.”

“I think you’re seeing that get a little bit better everyday. There’s times where we’re getting through progressions better than we did with him at any point last year. Those were the steps that we felt like he needed to take. A lot of times, what you see as a bad throw we see as his eyes weren’t moving fast enough or the body and his eyes weren’t in rhythm together. Poor mechanics because of that, which sometimes leads to bad throws. And so I think you’re starting to see it click for him a little bit more everyday.”

Reed’s best game of the 2024 season came in Texas A&M‘s 43-41 4OT loss to Auburn on Nov. 23. In the loss, Reed passed for 297 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception. He also totaled 66 yards on the ground, although it wasn’t good enough to steal a win in Jordan-Hare.

The Nashville native had a good game in the Las Vegas Bowl against USC as well, as he threw for 292 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. The Aggies however came out on the wrong side with a 35-31.

“I feel like I’ve had tremendous growth in my passing this offseason,” Reed said at A&M’s Fall Camp Press Conference. “We’ve had some great receivers come in and just having the O-line and running backs that we have makes it a lot easier for me to sit back there and make these throws. The receivers we have now have made it a lot easier as well. I feel a lot more confident back there, finding ways to protect myself. Knowing the offense a little bit better.”

Reed and the Aggies open their 2025 campaign at home against UTSA on Aug. 30. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM on ESPN.