Texas A&M HC Mike Elko expects 'big things' from his starting QB

Texas A&M's 2026 spring season, culminating with the annual Maroon & White Game, provided head coach Mike Elko and his revamped coaching staff another chance to watch the new roster, now including 17 transfer portal additions and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, in action.

Still, nothing matches the return of starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who enters his third season with even higher expectations after throwing for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, while his 12 interceptions, including four in the last two losses that ended the Aggies historic season, have received more attention than his positive play.

Interceptions are nearly guaranteed for every college quarterback, but the situation will always be the focus, and after turning the ball over multiple times against the Texas Longhorns, followed by another two-interception outing vs. Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff, it doomed the Aggies' chances of making it farther than the opening weekend.

On paper, losing a record 10 players to the 2026 NFL Draft was an expected outcome for Mike Elko, who added enough veteran talent from the portal to make up for the losses, while adding Alabama transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton finally provides Marcel Reed size on the outside, which should open things up for star junior Mario Craver to carve up secondaries in the middle of the field.