Logical Wiggins tailoring A&M's offense to Reed's abilities

Click here to view Texas A&M’s Tuesday press conference.

Any apprehension Aggie football fans have for a first-time offensive coordinator is understandable.

Even the elite in the field once had to prove themselves.

Texas A&M’s Holmon Wiggins also has to prove himself. He takes over an offensive unit that averaged 444.5 yards and 33.8 points last season.

That’s a high standard to reach.

But any fears about Wiggins' ability as a first-year offensive coordinator should have been assuaged — at least to some degree — in a Tuesday morning press conference.

Facing the media for the first time this fall, Wiggins projected an air of confidence and energy. Even more important, he also revealed a gift for logic in how his offensive system will operate.

“I think pretty much any good coach is going to try to tailor everything that they do to the players and the personnel that they have,” Wiggins said. “So for us, it’s looking at what our guys do well, trying to put those guys in a great position to be successful and make that happen.

“I think we have some really good pieces. I’m excited about them, and over five practices through camp, we’re starting to figure some things out.”

Wiggins gave good reviews for the various components of the offense. He lauded the receiving corps. He praised the backfield, in particular running back Rueben Owens II. He commended the fierce competition for starting jobs on the offensive line.

Yet, most of his attention and praised was directed at quarterback Marcel Reed, who is entering his second year as the Aggies' full-time starter.

“We’re putting more on the quarterback this year,” Wiggins said. “We’re asking more of the quarterback, and (Reed’s) done a great job of understanding that, but also making sure that he’s ready for that.

“I’ve seen his game kind of take it to the next level. I think that’s part of growth on his part. Him understanding that is a year that he knows this offense is going to go as he goes. Him kind of finding comfort in what we’re doing, but also him putting the time in.”

Just like everyone else, Wiggins wants to put Reed in a position to succeed and get the most out of his skill set.

Therefore, he’s implemented more rollouts and has the line moving the pocket more frequently. The elusive Reed rushed for almost 500 yards last season. The opposing defense is under more stress when Reed is in motion. A moving target is hardest to hit.

Danny Grant, TexAgs

Marcel Reed passed for 3,169 yards while rushing for 493 more in 2025, accounting for 31 total touchdowns.

That doesn’t mean Reed won’t pass from the traditional pocket. It’s just a wrinkle to keep defenses guessing.

“I think a lot of defenses have seen how athletic (Reed) is, right?” Wiggins said. “That gives us the ability to be able to put him on a perimeter, kind of change the launch point, especially for defenses that try to tee off on us and actually see the quarterback in just one spot.

“For us, that has always been the onus to be able to make sure that we can sit back there, drop back in a pocket, have some quick game, move the pocket and change those launch points because we play some animals in this league. And if you’re just staying off in one point, that gives those (defensive) guys the advantage, so we’re back to trying to take a little bit of that back.”

Anything that makes Reed more productive makes him more dangerous.

Last season, Reed actually passed for more yardage (3,169 yards) than acclaimed SEC quarterbacks Arch Manning of Texas, John Mateer of Oklahoma and LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina.

He even averaged more passing yards than Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.

However, Wiggins wants more consistency from Reed, who threw 12 interceptions in 2025.

Reducing that total would be a dramatic step toward increasing Reed’s overall production.

That message has been emphasized throughout August camp all the way back to spring drills.

“It starts with the quarterback,” Wiggins said. “We’re trying to put the ball in play, but also we’re not trying to put the ball at risk.

“The biggest thing is not putting ourselves at a disadvantage, so if he can do that, that’ll give us the competitive advantage that we need.”