Amid Marcel Reed’s struggles, Mike Elko insists it’s ‘impossible’ to recruit QB depth through transfer portal
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Amid Marcel Reed’s early struggles in 2026 came a question to Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko during his session with reporters on Monday that touched on the quarterback issues the Aggies are now facing.
To say the SEC slate hasn’t gone according to plan so far for Texas A&M would be an understatement. Just a few weeks ago, the Aggies were ranked 9th in the country and the possibilities were limitless for Elko’s program this season.
But in a flash, a stunning home loss to Kentucky followed by a blowout defeat at LSU have dropped Texas A&M out of the AP Poll and cast a severe question mark on this season. There’s also a big question mark right now surrounding the quarterback position in College Station, with Marcel Reed’s play the past 2 weeks causing a stir and not in a good way.
Reed has just 6 touchdown passes in 4 games and has already thrown 4 interceptions. He’s thrown for 738 yards but has only completed 55.4% of his passes so far this season, with Reed going a miserable 10 for 26 in Week 4 against LSU. Reed’s QBR sits at a dismal 50.9, which ranks 90th in college football, something fans and media would’ve been shocked at just a month ago.
That brings us back to Elko and those quarterback questions he’s now getting because of Reed’s play. He spoke to reporters on Monday about how hard it is to recruit quarterback depth in the transfer portal.
“It’s impossible. I don’t think anybody anywhere is recruiting depth out of the portal. I don’t think people in the portal go where there is an established starter,” Elko said.
After 2 straight losses to open SEC play, Texas A&M will hope the 3rd time is the charm on Saturday night at Kyle Field as it hosts Arkansas, which is also still looking for its first SEC win in 2026. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the battle of 2-2 teams who will kick things off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
