Marcel Reed ranked embarrassingly low in list of SEC quarterbacks; Why he can rocket up similar lists in 2025
It's no secret that Marcel Reed had a tough start as the quarterback for Texas A&M football when he was forced to step in for Conner Weigman two games into the season. Reed's passing ability was eyebrow-raising in a pretty negative way, and I personally was numbered among the doubters at first.
But something changed midseason. The guy who held onto the ball at all costs, taking hardly any risks, and therefore limiting the potential of the offense, all of a sudden looked like a completely different player after he came in against LSU.
He didn't really pass the ball all that much against the Tigers, but in the ensuing games— and despite losses— you'd be hard-pressed to see the same guy as you did before. It's that improvement that caused me to declare he had a chance at a top-3 designation among QBs in the conference going into 2025, but apparently not everyone shares that opinion.
My 2025 SEC Quarterback Power Rankings.
— CFBudge (@CF_Budge) April 6, 2025
This list was hard to make. There will be lots of great QB play in the SEC this season.
What changes would you make to this list? pic.twitter.com/EDm097dJfq
There are a couple of confusing placements on this list, for sure. For example, here are the numbers of no. 2 on the list, LaNorris Sellers: 8.5 YPA on 65.6% completion and 211.2 YPG. For Reed, since coming on after the LSU game, his numbers look like this: 7.6 YPA on 64% completion and 241.8 YPG.
The rushing threat is a factor for each guy, of course. And it should be said that Reed and Sellers have vastly different styles when they're carrying the rock: Sellers more resembles Cam Newton, while Reed's elusiveness makes him look like a shifty receiver when he pulls the ball down.
While I'm not saying that Sellers should be ranked below Reed, I don't think the gap is as large as it's being made to seem in this listing. I also think a lot is being taken for granted with a guy like Austin Simmons, and especially the strange placement of Bama's either/or at QB.
If nothing else, I think this speaks to the fact that Reed's progression over the course of the season is being largely ignored thanks to the Aggies' losing streak down the stretch. That's understandable, on one level, but the encouraging progress he showed should keep Aggie fans excited— even if he does have something to prove to the rest of the nation.