Mike Elko reveals how Marcel Reed handled being benched for Conner Weigman

Marcel Reed returned to the sideline this weekend with Conner Weigman back for Texas A&M.

With that, Mike Elko explained that dynamic during his press conference on Monday. He said Reed’s reaction to being back as the backup was what you’d expect from someone with the goals that he does. Still, he’s also trying to balance that with also being a good member of the team for the Aggies.

“Like a competitor, you know,” Elko said of how Reed took their decision at quarterback. “I think he’s a great kid. He wants to be our starting quarterback. He has wanted to be our starting quarterback since the day he stepped on campus. That’s what makes him great.”

“But he also wants to win. He wants to be a great Aggie. He wants to be a great teammate,” said Elko.

Reed had started each of the previous three games prior to this weekend. He went 38-68 (55.9%) for 514 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also ran for 187 yards and two more scores. Most importantly, though, the Aggies were 3-0 in that span early in their season.

Still, Weigman came back to play against Missouri after missing that time with a shoulder injury he suffered and then managed over their first two outings. In his first action in almost a month, he had his best outing of the season despite not throwing a touchdown as he went 18-22 (81.8%) for 276 yards.

As a player, especially one that was just seeing his first real collegiate snaps, Reed is going to want to be playing. For now, though, his playing time will depend on when or if they need him as the reserve again.

“He’ll continue to prepare,” said Elko. “He’ll continue to put himself in position to be ready to go if his number is needed and called.”

Elko calls out ‘absolutely embarrassing’ critics of Weigman

Mike Elko was angry postgame this weekend because of how the lead into the game went for Conner Weigman.

Elko finished his opening statement after the win over Mizzou by pivoting to their quarterback.

“The last thing I’m going to say, and I’m going to say this because it needs to be said,” Elko began. “You can challenge Conner for how he plays and you can be upset about Conner for how he throws a football. Some of the stuff that has been said about this kid and written about this kid — not by you guys, you guys have been great — is embarrassing. Is absolutely embarrassing the stuff that gets out there on this kid.

“This kid’s a winner, he’s a competitor. He does everything that he needs to do for Texas A&M Football. There’s a lot of people right now that need to stand up and recognize what they’ve said over the last three weeks and take some ownership in it.”

Elko later clarified on those thoughts.

“How false and fictitious it all was,” he said. “Not criticism to him as a quarterback. You can criticize him as a quarterback. He stood up here, he owned his performance. We’re all in this arena to be criticized. That’s sport, right?

“When you start taking about personal things that are grossly fictitious and grossly false and those things become stories and start running? That’s embarrassing.”