Mike Elko didn’t waste much time flipping the page. After a year marked by inconsistency and an offense that failed to produce a single 600-yard receiver, the Texas A&M Aggies entered the offseason with clarity: build around Marcel Reed. The redshirt sophomore has quietly moved from backup duty to center stage, and this spring has been a showcase of both physical growth and a shift in command. Reed’s now played in 14 games over two seasons, but for the first time, the keys to the offense are fully his. With the playbook expanding and the spotlight intensifying, Elko and Reed are aligning to rewire the identity of an Aggies offense, a unit that’s shown flashes but struggled to really produce.

That SEC Football Podcast’s Shane, never shy with a hot take, believes Texas A&M might just be hiding a gem in plain sight. “I think people are sleeping on Reed. I joke, I give Texas A&M fans a hard time, but I really do think that second-year Elko is going to have a big step forward,” he said.

“And yes, they had a wonderful start to the season last year, but I think this will be a better program year two. Structured a little more the way Elko would like, and I really think Reed is going to be one of the surprise quarterbacks this year—not just in this conference. I just, I feel like people are going to be talking about it in November. So yeah, I think that’s the one I’m buying,” Shane added. Marcel Reed might not be in every preseason Heisman odds sheet, but those paying attention know the margin for surprise is razor thin in the SEC.

The Aggies, meanwhile, have been far from quiet on the personnel front. Currently ranked 17th on the On3’s 2025 transfer portal index, they’ve welcomed 14 newcomers through the portal—at a net NIL loss of $781,000 in adjusted value. It’s a figure that stings on paper, but Mike Elko is betting on function over flash. Among those added are players clearly meant to boost Reed’s support system, something that was sorely lacking in 2024. The receiver room has more explosiveness, but it’s still the offensive line that remains the ultimate swing factor in Reed’s year-two breakout.

Saturday’s spring game offered a mixed bag of signals. Reed completed 18 of 28 passes for 213 yards, tossing a touchdown and one interception while leading the Maroon team on nine of their 12 drives. That’s a solid outing under any circumstances, but especially so given that both offensive lines—cobbled together via a draft system and riddled with injuries—gave up 12 sacks in total.

With sacks called by touch, the stat isn’t always a perfect reflection, but it highlights the pressure Reed operated under. “It’s hard to say,” Elko said of Reed’s performance Saturday. “The pockets weren’t great. I thought he made some really good throws into really tight windows. I thought we did some things in the passing game that we hadn’t done last year. But the pocket, the internal pocket, was not good today.”

Despite the chaos up front, Reed’s mechanics appeared crisper, and the ball came out with more zip and confidence. His decision-making showed growth, too—he repeatedly threaded passes into tight windows that would’ve been off-limits last year. More importantly, Reed looked like a QB stepping into ownership. He’s added nearly seven pounds of muscle this offseason, aiming to reach 195 pounds before Week 1. But it’s not just his frame that’s bulked up. As teammates and coaches noted, there’s a new presence about him—shoulders squared, voice louder in the huddle, demeanor more composed under duress.

And while numbers and metrics will always swirl around a quarterback, leadership is harder to quantify. What’s clear is Reed’s taking the reins of an offense that desperately needed direction.

Mike Elko is betting big on a bounce-back “weapon” for Marcel Reed

Texas A&M is doing more than just crossing their fingers when it comes to building around rising QB1 Marcel Reed—they’re stacking the deck. And the biggest card they’ve played? Former NC State wideout KC Concepcion.

Let’s call it like it is—getting the best version of Concepcion is absolutely essential if the Aggies want to take a leap in 2025. After all, the kid was electric as a freshman. As Bleacher Report put it, “KC Concepcion already has an interesting journey.” In 2023, he was the breakout sensation at NC State, turning heads with 71 catches for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns. He even chipped in 320 rushing yards at a wild 7.8 yards per carry—and oh yeah, tossed a touchdown pass too. That Swiss Army knife production earned him second-team All-ACC honors.

But 2024 told a different story. As NC State dipped from 9-4 to 6-7, Concepcion’s numbers followed suit. “He reeled in 53 passes for 460 yards and six touchdowns, managing only 36 yards (and two scores) on 19 carries,” BR noted. Now, with a fresh start in College Station, KC believes a comeback is brewing: “He’s the veteran of the receiving unit and should be Marcel Reed’s top target in 2025.” If KC finds his groove again, Reed and Elko will be more than happy.