Nick Saban compares Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed to Ravens' Lamar Jackson

Nick Saban coached his fair share of elite collegiate quarterbacks throughout his illustrious five-decade career, especially during his 17-year tenure at Alabama. From AJ McCarron to Tua Tagovailoa, the 74-year-old Crimson Tide head coach-turned-ESPN analyst knows what a future NFL quarterback looks like.

Which is why, when he looks at Texas A&M sophomore QB Marcel Reed, Saban sees two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Saban made that comparison while heaping heavy praise on the Aggies’ dynamic dual-threat signal caller during his weekly Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

“This guy (Reed) reminds me of somebody that plays for the Baltimore Ravens that has turned the National Football League for several years now (Jackson), and I think this guy has the same kind of qualities,” Saban said, referring to the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner out of Louisville who is in his eighth NFL season this year, all with the Ravens.

In his first full season as the Aggies’ starting QB, Reed has been sensational while leading No. 3-ranked Texas A&M to an undefeated season (8-0, 5-0 SEC) in head coach Mike Elko‘s second year at the helm. Reed currently ranks third in the SEC with 2,321 yards of total offense and 23 total touchdowns, including ranking fourth in the league with 1,972 passing yards and 17 touchdowns through the air.

After combining for 310 yards ot total offense and four touchdowns in Saturday night’s 49-25 win over then-No. 20 LSU, Reed currently has the fourth-best Heisman Trophy odds at +550 according to BetMGM.

“I think this guy has got special talents, man,” Saban continued on Reed. “He’s improved as a passer, he’s got better receivers, he’s got better skill guys to play with him outside, they can run the ball a little bit. And this guy can beat you with his feet. This guy is an unbelievably talented athlete, when you talk about this guy playing basketball and what a good basketball player he was, and they’ve got the skill guys now. There you go.”

Jackson is an interesting comp for Reed, especially given what he’s accomplished in the NFL. Along with his two MVP awards, Jackson currently holds the NFL record for career passer rating (103.5) as well as both the career (6,353 yards) and single-season (1,206 in 2019) records for rushing yards by a quarterback. Jackson certainly put on a show Thursday night when he returned from a three-game absence due to a nagging hamstring injury to throw four touchdowns in a 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins.