Three reasons Texas A&M kicks off SEC championship contention with huge win over UTSA
Only one more sleep until Texas A&M finally kicks off the 2025 season, Aggie fans. We've almost made it through the long, dark offseason.
There's a lot of optimism for the Aggies this year, and if things shake out right, they could be contenders to appear in Atlanta once again this year. Here's three things they'll show against UTSA that will foretell whether they, in fact, will be contenders.
Marcel Reed looks like the QB Texas A&M fans expect him to be
Let's be real: The Aggies aren't contending for anything without some improved quarterback play. I've talked before about how well Marcel played down the stretch of last year, but there were certainly some uneven moments, even with all of the good.
There's been a lot said about how improved he is as a passer, especially in this fall camp— but he's still being slept on. We'll see just how true that is, but for now, I'm choosing to believe in the hype based on the improvement we saw throughout last season.
I don't think we see Reed run a lot against the Roadrunners, but if he does, it will be to great effect. That's going to be the recipe to keep him healthy this season: don't take off too often, but when you do, make it hurt.
If this is the kind of play we see out of Marcel, then the sky is the limit for this Aggie team— and him personally. UTSA will be far from the most challenging defense the Ags will see this year, but that means they have a chance to work out some kinks here early on.
The wide receiver upgrade with KC Concepcion and Mario Craver is real
There was certainly some talent on campus last year for the Aggies— after all, with Jahdae Walker making the 53-man roster for the Bears, you had at least one NFL guy in the receiving corps. But overall, the level of talent was not where it needed to be for the Aggies to be contenders.
Even so, they were one game away from playing for the SEC championship last year— as Billy Liucci has said often, one tackle of Payton Thorne just a yard or so shorter, and A&M is in Atlanta in year one under Mike Elko. With what they've added in the portal at the receiver spot, then, you have to feel good.
Of course, that's all theoretical right now. Concepcion and Craver certainly lit things up at their previous stops, but we have no idea just yet how they'll mesh in this Aggie offense.
I personally think it will be pretty smooth— but we need to see it first before we anoint anybody. Again, the Roadrunner defense won't be the true stress test that other defenses will be, but we'll at least get a taste.
The pass rush with Cashius Howell is far improved
Texas A&M ranked 64th in the nation in sacks last year— 69th in sacks per game. For a team with as much skill as they had on the line of scrimmage, that was an inexcusable result, whether or not it was a result of scheme.
Jay Bateman and Mike Elko have all but said last year, though, that the Aggies were forced into playing some pretty straight-up rushes and not bringing extra blitzers thanks to back-end issues. With those hopefully remedied, there will be a little more pressure on opposing offenses.
It's not just that, though— a breakout season may be en route from Cashius Howell. The former Bowling Green EDGE closed the year on a tear for the Aggies, and that hot streak will hopefully continue into this season.
Howell is much more in the mold of a pure pass-rushing end than either Stewart or Scourton were, so he could be feasting this season. Along with a heavier blend of exotic fronts, we could see a lot more pressure on opposing QBs— which will, in turn, help the back end.