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Is Texas A&M's QB being unfairly criticized after CFP loss to Miami?
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- Is Texas A&M's QB being unfairly criticized after CFP loss to Miami?
Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed is under intense scrutiny after the Aggies' 10-3 loss to Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday afternoon, as the redshirt sophomore threw for 237 yards, committing three turnovers, including three interceptions. At the same time, the offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time all season.
However, with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour, which was likely worse on the field, Reed's accuracy issues were unsurprising, but several throws, including his pass on the run to wide receiver KC Concepcion , who was wide open with plenty of grass in front of him, fell to the ground and resulted in another failed drive.
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Throughout the regular season, Marcel Reed has been a rhythm passer who relies on a healthy rushing attack to create a balanced offense, prompting the defense to load the box and create mismatches in the passing game. Over the last two games against Texas and Miami, Texas A&M 's run game has been abysmal, totaling 246 yards on the ground in both losses, including 89 yards against the Hurricanes .
Similar to last season, senior running back Le'Veon Moss's injury issues plagued the Aggie run game. He did return against Miami, but he wasn't fully healthy after his ankle injury and left the game after just 17 snaps.
Behind a veteran offensive line that was considered a top 3-ranked unit nationally, former five-star prospect and sophomore back Rueben Owens, freshman Jamarion Morrow , and veteran EJ Smith failed to find any consistency on the ground, resulting in plenty of questions heading into the offseason.
Right now, it's hard to say if Texas A&M's starting running back is on the roster. While incoming freshman KJ Edwards is undoubtedly talented enough to compete for that spot, there's a chance head coach Mike Elko will need to find a veteran back from the transfer portal, along with two starting tackles to shore up the offensive line departures.
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Moreso, it's clear that Marcel Reed, at this point in his career, is a more than serviceable college starting quarterback who thrives in play action, earning a prolific 88.4 passing grade (PFF) with 17 of his 25 touchdowns and just one of his ten interceptions.
If the run game improves and the pass protection doesn't drastically drop off, Marcel Reed will be fine, but whoever Mike Elko hires as the new quarterbacks coach will also dictate his success under center in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Is Texas A&M's Marcel Reed being unfairly criticized after CFP loss?
