As we will do throughout this football season, HawgBeat went behind enemy lines to gain insight on the No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies from AggieYell Publisher Mark Passwaters.
Led by first-year head coach Mike Elko — the former leader of the Duke Blue Devils who was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2022 — Texas A&M is off to a 3-1 (1-0 SEC) start in 2024.
The Aggies started their season with a frustrating 23-13 home loss to Notre Dame before defeating McNeese State (52-10), Florida (33-20) and Bowling Green (26-20). First-string quarterback Conner Weigman suffered a shoulder injury in the win over McNeese State, and dual-threat backup Marcel Reed has taken over the reigns since then.
Against the Cowboys, Gators and Falcons, Reed accumulated a 32-of-57 (56.1%) mark in the pocket with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He's also carried the ball 32 times for 217 yards and a score.
On the defensive side of the ball, Texas A&M boasts the nation's 51st scoring defense (318.8 yards allowed per game) and it ranks No. 52 in passing yards allowed (189.0 per game) and No. 62 in rushing defense (129.8 yards per game).
Here is what Passwaters had to say about Saturday's matchup, which is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas...
It seems like Texas A&M will start QB Marcel Reed, what are his strengths/weaknesses, and how does the Aggies' offense differ with him compared to Connor Weigman?
Passwaters: "Reed is making his third career start, so he's still in the process of getting his feet wet. Still, he's been fairly effective so far. His strengths are his throwing arm, his speed and his intelligence. In the four games he's played serious minutes in, he has turned the ball over once -- on a Hail Mary.
"Weigman can run, but he'd rather stay in the pocket and work his progression. He's got the quicker release and is more accurate. But Reed, with his legs, has added an element to the Aggie offense."
Who are Texas A&M's primary playmakers offensively and defensively?
Passwaters: "Obviously, Reed is a guy to know. But running back Le'Veon Moss has been the bellcow for the Aggies and has firmly grasped the role of RB1. At receiver, they're still looking for someone to break out, but Noah Thomas is the guy they want to get going. Their big play threat so far has been transfer Cyrus Allen, but Jahdae Walker showed some signs of breaking loose last weekend. At tight end, Tre Watson is the top receiving threat, but Baby Thor, Theo Ohrstrom, has caught two long touchdowns in the last two games.
"Defensively, the big names are up front: Nic Scourton, Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart. Combined, they have 31 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. That's good, but not to the level we were expecting. Linebacker Taurean York is the leader of the defense, and Will Lee is their best corner."
Texas A&M struggled against Bowling Green last week, what went wrong for the Aggies and do you think they just played down to their competition?
Passwaters: "I don't think they took Bowling Green seriously, which is astounding considering they took Penn State to the wire two weeks earlier and then had a bye to prepare for A&M. Scourton said after the game that some of the players were "loose," especially after being up at halftime 13-3.
"But the week before, they absolutely crushed Florida. The final score was not indicative of how bad of a beating that was. They need to click the on button and keep it on from here on out. They can't just mess around."
What are the vibes like in Mike Elko's program? It's obviously still early, but what do fans think about him so far?
Passwaters: "The players, it seems, have totally bought in. There are some fans who are angry Elko's there instead of a bigger name, and some are mad because of the Notre Dame game. I think the fan base, largely, is still disgruntled after the Jimbo disappointment and that's carried over to this year. But they're willing to give him a chance, and his message of discipline and accountability has played well."
Are there any key injuries or roster battles to watch for Texas A&M ahead of the Arkansas game?
Passwaters: "Obviously, Weigman's status is the big one. Outside of that, center TJ Shanahan, who had taken over the job in the Florida game, did really well and then started against Bowling Green, is out. That's two of A&M's three centers, but Koli Faiiu, a Utah transfer who was expected to win the job anyway, is healthy and he'll start.
"The only other big question will be which receivers get playing time. Last week, Moose Muhammad was a healthy scratch as the Aggies went with Thomas, Allen, Walker, Jabre Barber and Terry Bussey. The rotation is getting tighter and Muhammad, a fan favorite, doesn't appear to be in it."
How do you see this game playing out and what's your score prediction?
Passwaters: "I think this game largely depends on turnovers. The Aggies are +3 in that category and obviously, Arkansas had a field day with them at Auburn. Both teams have had moments where they've looked really good and moments where they looked like a mess. But the Aggies have more talent and can probably do a few more things offensively. It's always a nail-biter, and I'll be very glad to get that game out of Arlington."
Score Prediction: 24-21, Texas A&M
