Reed equipped with the tools to fix last season's shortcomings

TAMPA, Fla. — One play from last football season runs through Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed’s mind more than any other.

It’s not the last-minute touchdown pass to beat Notre Dame. It’s not weaving through the LSU defense on a 40-yard touchdown run. It’s not a deep pin-point pass to KC Concepcion that set up the game-winning score vs. South Carolina.

Nope. The play that stands out in Reed’s mind is an end zone interception in a 10-3 season-ending College Football Playoff loss to Miami.

“That’s one that comes to mind,” Reed said on Wednesday at Southeastern Conference Media Days. “You know there’s so many plays you can think about. There’s good plays and bad plays. But that was the last one that we had of the season, so it’s hard to forget.”

No doubt, all Aggies remember that play. It dashed A&M’s championship hopes last season. But maybe — just maybe — it will be a fulcrum to boost championship hopes this year.

Success is often derived from failure. You learn from mistakes. A phoenix rises from the ashes.

“I think great people and greatness sometimes comes from understanding where you came up short and how you can fix it,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.

The first fix on Reed’s to-do list is reducing his interception total. Last year, he threw a dozen. Half of them were on plays snapped in the red zone or on the edge. Also, six of the interceptions occurred in the last three games against SEC or playoff competition.

He needs to improve his 62.1 completion percentage, too. He also has the ability to rush for more than the 493 yards and six touchdowns he accumulated last year.

But how is it fixed?

Reed said he has plenty of tools to get the job done. There’s experience. There’s physical growth. There’s a big receiver he didn’t have a year ago. There’s a scheme of new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins which, Reed said, will include moving the pocket more often.

Reed on the move creates headaches for defenses.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Listed as ESPN’s No. 4 dual-threat QB in the class of 2023, Marcel Reed has accounted for 55 total touchdowns in 27 career games at Texas A&M.

“I’m older. I’m more mature. I think this game takes a lot of experience,” Reed said. “I think having that is another step of growth. You’ll see it on the football field.’’

Elko agrees. He said there’s too much impatience with quarterbacks. Too often quarterbacks are judged before they’ve fully developed.

“I think people want to say, 'OK, what he is as a freshman is what he’s always going to be,’” the Aggie head coach said. “Kids get better. I think we lose sight of the fact that kids have an ability to enhance their skills over time.”

Reed is skilled. His 5,427 career passing yards and 41 career passing touchdowns show that. So do those highlight plays vs. Notre Dame, LSU and South Carolina.

He can be better. He will be better. One reason is the arrival of receiver Isaiah Horton, a transfer who caught 42 passes and scored eight touchdowns for Alabama.

The 6-foot-4 Horton is a big “X” receiver the Aggies definitely need.

Danny Grant, TexAgs

At Alabama in 2025, Isaiah Horton reeled in 42 passes for 511 yards and eight scores.

“A quarterback loves his X receiver,” Reed said. “Having him outside. Having a big body that can get those one-on-one balls is going to be really critical when it comes to third-down situations or just a gotta-have-it play. I’m going to be looking toward ‘Zay’ a lot.”

He’ll also be looking for All-SEC receiver Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman. Reed said Terry Bussey made significant strides in the spring. Reed also raved about the running and receiving abilities of running backs Rueben Owens II and Jamarion Morrow.

If Reed indeed is improved, that group can help reach a lot of his goals. Hopefully, all of them.

“Definitely some goals I want to achieve in yards passing and rushing along with touchdowns,” he said. “I want to get to the SEC Championship. I want to make it to the national championship. I want to do all those things.

“I think they’re all very attainable. We’ve just got to put our heads down and work.”