Unsolicited recommendations for A&M's SECMD representation

The call never comes.

Three football players will represent Texas A&M in a couple of weeks at Southeastern Conference Media Days.

The event is for the media that covers SEC football. The name literally says so.

Therefore, it would seemingly make sense that coaches ask media outlets to request which players are to be interviewed.

Yet, the phone remains silent. There are no ringtones. No songs. Not even a buzz nor a text message. It’s been that way for each of the previous 19 SEC Media Days for which I covered.

Surely, it’s just an oversight. Between coaching duties, public appearances, vacations, golf outings and family time, the coaches have merely forgotten to solicit help from media types.

So, as just to offer assistance to coach Mike Elko, here are recommendations for the three players A&M should bring to Tampa.

• Marcel Reed: This should be automatic. Reed plays the most important position. He’s largely the face of the program. He was touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate last November.

But no quarterback has represented A&M at SEC Media Days since Kellen Mond in 2019. That’s bizarre.

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Though he did not speak last year, Marcel Reed made a trip to Atlanta at the tail end of SEC Media Days as part of the league’s Student-Athlete Leadership Council.

Hopefully, that changes, because Reed is the most-discussed player on the A&M roster.

Last season, he passed for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also added 493 yards and six touchdowns as a rusher. But he threw 12 interceptions and didn’t play particularly well in the final two games.

What’s his self-evaluation from last season? Where does he need to improve most? What has he done to get better? How will a rebuilt offensive line affect him? Can the A&M offense be as explosive as a year ago? How much difference will there be in the offense with new coordinator Holmon Wiggins?

These are valid questions that should be asked to a star quarterback for a team with championship aspirations.

• Mario Craver: He’s fast. He’s dynamic. He has All-SEC credentials. He’s A&M’s best player. Last year, Craver had more than 900 receiving yards. He also had four catches of 50 yards or more. Injuries forced him to miss one game and most of another.

This year, he projects as one of the most explosive players in the country. So, of course, reporters want to ask if he can be better. If fully healthy, what is he capable of? Will he be affected by KC Concepcion no longer drawing opponents’ attention? How will he benefit from the addition of Isaiah Horton? Is there anybody else in the receivers’ room who is primed for a big season?

Reporters want Craver’s opinion.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Mario Craver was a third-team All-SEC honoree after the 2025 regular season.

• Marcus Ratcliffe: Truthfully, either Ratcliffe or fellow safety Dalton Brooks would be an excellent choice to speak for the defense.

Also, Ratcliffe had three interceptions in 2024. That’s as many as A&M’s entire team managed last season.

Despite that, the Aggies were ranked in the nation’s top 20 in pass defense.

Ratcliffe would be an ideal choice to ask if A&M’s pass defense can be just as strong or even stronger. How will the departures of Will Lee III and Tyreek Chappell affect the secondary? What impact will newcomers like Rickey Gibson III and Tawfiq Byard have? And, of course, how can the Aggies get more interceptions?

Those are just some of the questions reporters figure to ask.

The feeling here is that these players would be good choices to provide answers.

But so far, there have been no calls to ask for my opinion