Marcel Reed denies improved passing will impact run game

One aspect of Marcel Reed‘s game is undeniable. The Texas A&M quarterback will be a massive threat with his legs, never afraid to take off when given green grass. However, the goal entering the 2025 season is to become a more seasoned passer, hoping to unlock something new for the Aggies.

Do not expect the run-game impact to dip, though. Reed was adamant that everything would remain status quo when speaking to the media on Tuesday. Defenses might have a tough choice to make when getting out of the pocket and Reed believes no matter what they choose, success will come for Texas A&M.

“I don’t think my passing ability being better will affect how many times I run the ball,” Reed said. “It’s definitely instinct on how much I run. The defense has to make a decision at the end of the day once I get outside of the pocket. We’ll see when we get into the season what it does, which decision they make and who they want to stop. They have to choose one.”

In 11 games played, Reed recorded 543 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. His 116 carries wound up third most for Texas A&M despite having a deep running back room. Maybe it’s a scenario where the number of attempts goes down but a few more explosive plays bring the efficiency up.

Looking at Reed’s counting stats on the pass game side, it’s easy to see why the quarterback felt the need for improvement. Only 61.3% of his throws were completed for 1,864 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. There was no game with at least 300 yards on the resume, with the season high being 297 in the 4OT game against Auburn.

Texas A&M has done its job in making sure Reed is surrounded by playmakers. No offseason acquisition bigger than former NC State wide receiver KC Concepcion via the NCAA transfer portal. Mario Carver is another SEC-proven receiver out of Mississippi State who could provide a spark for the Aggies.

Even so, Reed is confident offensive coordinator Collin Klein will still dial up his number every once in a while. The previously mentioned dynamic running back room returns for another go-round. Texas A&M will be hoping for the best of both worlds from Reed and their skill position stars, believing they can be home to one of college football’s top dual-threat offenses.