Doh

That sounds about right. I tried to find rankings prior to our last 2 games where he just disappeared. That would be interesting to measure due to all the hiesmann hype earlier this year

Seriously doubt we grab a QB unless it is another Zeno type QB.

Yikes that's pretty bad. So 8-4 with a minor bowl loss is our projected high water mark for 2026. Ain't nobody going to be happy with that.

Certitude is a helluva drug…

Obviously if my Aunt had Balls she'd be my uncle can somebody with better math skills than me estimate where he would be with 1 less interception in the tu, USCe , ND game ?


Reed does need to play better especially needs to have fewer TOs

Great football programs are actively pursuing quarterbacks in the portal. Why are we not doing everything we can to improve every position on our team? We know what Reed can do and it's not enough. If competition upsets any player we have on our team, then let him go. College football has changed forever, it's about money and winning.

I doubt any team with a returning QB that won 9+ games who is returning is pursuing a portal QB

Occasionally the staff think QB2 is better than QB1 and QB1 leaves
Beck went to Miami because Kirby thought Stockton was better
Ewers went pro because he was not going to be the starter

Feel free to list the programs with returning starters that are paying top dollar for portal QBs

Who is it that's supposed to fix the Yipster between now and next season....Wiggins?

Too many dumb turnovers especially in the red zone needs to be fixed.

Here is an "Early Look" for our QB room going into the 2026 season:

1. Marcel Reed 6'1'' 175 - Junior (RS) - Here in 2026.
- Starting QB for 2026

2. Brady Hart 6'4" 195 - Freshman (RS) - Here in 2026
- Will become QB #2 in 2026 - Starting QB in 2027 / 2028

3. Helman Casuga 6'1" 220
- True Freshman - Will RS as a QB in 2026 - Will enroll in classes in January 2026.
- Will become QB #3 - Possible starting QB in 2028 / 2029

4. Eli Marcos 6'1" 205 - Freshman (RS) - Probable Scout Team QB - Here in 2026
5. Paxton Land 6'4" 225 - Sophomore (RS) - Probable Scout Team QB - Here in 2026

6. Miles O'Neill 6'5" 220 - Sophomore (RS) - Transfer portal - Gone in 2026
--- We will bring in a senior-level "Non-Starting" QB to be a player-coach to Brady & Helman.

Stone44 said:

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Great football programs are actively pursuing quarterbacks in the portal. Why are we not doing everything we can to improve every position on our team? We know what Reed can do and it's not enough. If competition upsets any player we have on our team, then let him go. College football has changed forever, it's about money and winning.

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Let's say you get your QB. Assuming it is a big fish you will need the cash to do it. Done...

So, we know there are other team needs. OL/DL, WR, LB, DBs (Ill leave RB out but we may need $ for one of those too). You have less $$ for these positions now. Where are you going to comprimise?

Does comprimising in those areas while bringing in a "top" portal QB make you better? Or, does keeping your good QB and executing a plan to do really well in those other areas make you better? I believe it is the latter but understand the argument the other way.

Point is...Sometimes (most times) there is compromise. Doing "everything we can" to make the team better comes with limitations. It just does.

Do you really think Elko caters to kids who are "upset by competition"? These kind of assertions are rediculous.

Out of 136 D1 and 700+ total teams?

We are in QB purgatory

Reed is good enough that Elko and staff won't actively try to replace him but he also isn't good enough to win a title.

Which leaves us with Elko and staff just hoping and praying he somehow takes a huge step forward in progression between now and next September

I say spend the big bucks on the LOS guys.

Reed was the weak link this year on offense and he needs to improve his completion percentage and TO's, but get a good QB coach and coach him up. Also need to tailor the offense to his skill set a little more.

QB room should be fine next year with what we have and what's coming in.

A. G. Pennypacker said:

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I say spend the big bucks on the LOS guys.

Reed was the weak link this year on offense and he needs to improve his completion percentage and TO's, but get a good QB coach and coach him up. Also need to tailor the offense to his skill set a little more.

QB room should be fine next year with what we have and what's coming in.

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Agree.. I don't care how good your qb is if he has no OL to help him then there is no running game and definitely a good qb will become average to ok

Reed?

He was throwing at 61.3% in 2024
He was throwing at 62.1% in 2025

And that was with the additions of not one but two WRs that will play on sundays

WAKE UP ELKO!!!!

Marcel was a noticeably different QB last season and this season when he couldn't hand the ball to LeVeon. U & tu essentially dared Marcel to beat them.

Where did he rank among SEC QBs. I saw a stat after the tu game that had Reed ranked 10 th in QBR among P4 QBs. Ahead of Manning and most of the SEC QBs including the starters at ou, Bama and Georgia. What changed? Or maybe what is the source of this ranking?

Blonde Coffee Beans said:

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Reed?

He was throwing at 61.3% in 2024
He was throwing at 62.1% in 2025

And that was with the additions of not one but two WRs that will play on sundays

WAKE UP ELKO!!!!

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Low passing percentages take teams out of their rhythm and off schedule for the entire offense.

The staff should take every step necessary to improve our QB position, whether that's by going to the portal or through our homegrown talent. Reed cannot be allowed to waltz into the starting position this next year, he is simply not good enough.

It does seem unlikely that staff will pursue a QB in the portal. Our hope now lies in Brady Hart, a kid that should be a true freshman this season. I hope the staff made a good eval on him

Paul Pierce Ag said:

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The staff should take every step necessary to improve our QB position, whether that's by going to the portal or through our homegrown talent. Reed cannot be allowed to waltz into the starting position this next year, he is simply not good enough.

It does seem unlikely that staff will pursue a QB in the portal. Our hope now lies in Brady Hart, a kid that should be a true freshman this season. I hope the staff made a good eval on him

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I mean he has been the best since 2013 .. got us out of some predicaments this year.. was he perfect no…. The staff needs to also look at our OL and dl or it won't mater what qb is back there

I'd say be careful with confusing the best offense/best team/best record since 2013 with best QB since 2013. Reed is not that.

Even an above average OL will still struggle if a defense forces us to be 1-dimensional. It's the modern game, everyone must pull their weight

Reed played horrible on many plays during the year; the interceptions, fumbles, and missing open receivers. That is obvious, but you have to admit there were many plays where he played spectacular. This is why his QBR rank is #23 (even with all his mistakes) competing in the SEC without an OL/RB that could provide a decent rushing game. Elko knows what he is doing.

Got outplayed by a mediocre Arch Manning. lol then couldn't even hit any of the dozen screen passes in stride vs Miami, let alone anything past the line of scrimmage.

To win with Reed, we must have a great RB and oline. Miami played 4-3 with cover 2 zone like 95% of their plays. Marcel cannot handle it. We must force the D to play cover 1 or cover 0 to stop the run.

The hard reality is we are seeing very few talented QB's in CFB

I would hire the very best QB coach I could find and try to sharpen Reed, this spring.
I am not sure about getting Riley who Clemson just fired, but Elko needs to wake up and get his offense rebuilt.

Special teams coach with PK expertise
QB Coach to work on Reed

The window this season to take a run at a title was lost and place 50% on the lack of coaching skills in Elko's DIY budget brain.

If A&M is serious a QB coach gets hired.

Reed got exposed for what he is, an athlete with a decent arm playing QB. He may settle down a little but for the most part you know how to beat him. Reed's best games were the ones the other teams had to plan for several QBs, when we faced a good (not great) defense they knew his weaknesses.

Reed knows all the other QBs are inexperienced and will likely use that to get more money in the NIL. Unless we can get someone in the NIL we are stuck with him.

Good thing Jamal Lewis (and Travis Henry) showed up in 1997 to help this low % complete QB get the offense moving

Arizona's QB is a beast, 12/16 in the 1st qtr for 185 yards

BTW, Reed is in the Dos Comas club now, he can take his career into his own hands and hire a QB coach in the off-season to improve every aspect of his game. Stuff pros do to keep their jobs in the NFL

tk for tu juan said:

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Good thing Jamal Lewis (and Travis Henry) showed up in 1997 to help this low % complete QB get the offense moving

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About the same as Tom Brady's first 8 seasons in the NFL. Crazy how 63% is considered low now.

94chem said:

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tk for tu juan said:

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Good thing Jamal Lewis (and Travis Henry) showed up in 1997 to help this low % complete QB get the offense moving

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About the same as Tom Brady's first 8 seasons in the NFL. Crazy how 63% is considered low now.

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Yeah it's a stat that really needs to be broken out in short, medium, and long ranges. 62% on short routes is not great, but is good/great for long routes

For those of you picking on Reed, just consider it could be a lot worse. Half of Texas defense is sitting out the game, and Underwood still misses his receivers by a mile.

Manning is looking like a beast, though.

northeastag said:

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For those of you picking on Reed, just consider it could be a lot worse. Half of Texas defense is sitting out the game, and Underwood still misses his receivers by a mile.

Manning is looking like a beast, though.

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Give me end of season Manning over Reed any day.