Texas A&M's backup QB battle likely decided heading into the fall

Texas A&M's future at quarterback may have received an answer during the Maroon & White Game, as sophomore and former Michigan commit Brady Hart looked like the work he put in this offseason is slowly beginning to pay off, making several impressive throws to transfer wide receiver Isaiah Horton and redshirt sophomore wideout Ashton Bethel-Roman.

Standing 6'4" and nearly 200 pounds, Hart has gained the trust of the coaching staff and is much more versatile than many of us knew after showing off his speed this spring. However, even though it was assumed that Hart would immediately begin the offseason as the No. 2 option behind redshirt junior Marcel Reed, freshman quarterback Helaman Casuga still controls his own destiny, but the ook a step back.

On Saturday, the only touchdown of the game came after Casugua threw a pick-six to sophomore linebacker Noah Mikhail, who dropped back in zone coverage and read the freshman signal caller's eyes for the early score. Still, Casuga fought back late in the game, throwing the game-winning touchdown to tight end Luke Braden, as the Maroon team came back to secure a 15-13 victory.

Both players possess intriguing skill sets, while Brady Hart's experience after serving as the third-string option last season, combined with his elevated play in the pocket, showing off his impressive accuracy and touch during his snaps on Saturday, provides new OC Holmon Wiggins a reliable option if Marcel Reed were to exit or miss games next season.

For Casuga, spending next fall learning the playbook will serve him well heading into next spring. Either way, coach Mike Elko was right not to pursue a quarterback from the transfer portal after watching both players on Saturday afternoon.