Texas A&M Football: 3 reasons the Aggies’ offense can finally take a step in 2025
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Did you hear that? It was the unmistakable sound of thousands of Texas A&M fans rolling their eyes all at once.
Folks in College Station are definitely growing numb to this discourse because their program is stuck in a constant state of stagnation. Texas A&M has only eclipsed 10 wins in a season twice since 1996 (the year the Big 12 began conference play), but it finished under 6 wins only 4 times in that span. The Aggies are almost never bad, but seem to be perennially stuck at 8-4.
Texas A&M finished top 5 in total offense among SEC teams in 2020, but it’s been in the bottom half of the rankings every year since then. In that same 5-year span, the Aggies have posted a top-5 unit in terms of total defense 3 times — in 2023, 2021 and 2020. It’s considerably more complicated than all this suggests, but the offense underachieving has played a major role in Texas A&M’s inability to get over the hump.
In a similar vein, Texas A&M has finished lower than its AP Top 25 preseason ranking in 4-straight seasons. In only one of those seasons, 2021, did the Aggies finish ranked in the Top 25 at all. Former HC Jimbo Fisher is to blame for a lot of this, but it’s been a trend since well before he arrived — Kevin Sumlin, Mike Sherman and Dennis Franchione all oversaw at least one season ranked in the top 25 to start the year, but unranked to end it.
The hope is that HC Mike Elko can break this cycle in Year 2, and while history isn’t on their side, there’s a lot to like about his upcoming group, especially on offense. Here are 3 reasons why the Aggies’ offense can take a step in 2025.
1. Texas A&M returns all 5 starting offensive linemen
Football is won in the trenches, and the Aggies may boast the best returning offensive line in the SEC.
Let’s start with the interior O-line, led by RG Ar’maj Reed-Adams, who is likely to be named to the preseason All-SEC team at SEC Media Days next week. The 6th year senior — voted a team captain in the spring — is ranked No. 3 among SEC interior lineman according to PFF. He is joined by junior left guard Chase Bisontis and sophomore center Mark Nabou Jr., who missed most of last season due to injury after starting 12 games as a true freshman.
Both tackle spots are filled by seniors, with Trey Zuhn III and Demetrious Crownover — both standing at 6-7. Reuben Fatheree is back too, as is center Kolinu’u Faaiu. Just in case that isn’t enough, look out for 5-star freshman tackle Lamont Rogers, the No. 26 overall prospect in the 2025 class according to 247Sports.
This unit is tripping over talent and experience at one of the most important position groups in football.
2. Marcel Reed will have more experience and clearly defined responsibilities
Marcel Reed had a strong redshirt freshman season, given the circumstances.
Texas A&M’s offense was supposed to belong to Conner Weigman in 2024, but an AC joint injury suffered against Notre Dame forced the Aggies to turn to Reed, a former 4-star prospect whose lone college experience came from his start in the 2023 Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State. Weigman was far from his ceiling when he did return, and it was obvious that Reed was their best option under center. Elko officially made the switch mid-season.
Reed is smart, protects the football well and can do some serious damage with his legs, but his ability to push the ball downfield consistently — more than, say, 10 or 15 yards — is questionable at best. Still, he had enough to beat Florida and Arkansas with 6 total touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
It’s worth noting that he saw some success in the intermediate passing game and improved as an overall facilitator as the season progressed. Reed’s completion percentage average across the first 6 games of the season sat at 55%, but his average across the final 5 games of the year improved to 64%. I don’t necessarily believe Reed’s downfield efficacy is going to magically fix itself overnight, but I do think a few tame matchups against UTSA and Utah State will help him settle in before the Aggies’ first true test of the season at Notre Dame, and beyond.
Elko and OC Collin Klein enter the year better knowing Reed’s strengths and weaknesses in-game. Because of the chaotic fashion in which Reed was thrust into the starting job last year, having more time to prepare and refine a strategy should work wonders for Reed’s production on the field.
3. Weapons with elite speed and rushing ability
Ultimately, Texas A&M’s ceiling will be directly related to Reed’s progress as a passer. But at the same time, Elko and Klein have done a great job surrounding him with talent that can accentuate his strengths.
Don’t forget, Texas A&M will be at its best by leaning on its run game. The Aggies — alongside Tennessee — are set to compete for the best rushing attack in the league this year.
Not only do the Aggies have a talented and deep offensive line, but they also boast an elite RB room. Rueben Owens is flying well under the radar after suffering an injury in August 2024, which held him out of most of the regular season. He’s joined by Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss, who shared the vast majority of reps in the backfield and each rushed for 650+ yards last season. Then of course there’s Reed, who scrambled for 543 yards and 7 touchdowns in his own right.
Texas A&M will certainly run some plays for NC State transfer WR Kevin Concepcion to show off his skills in space. Concepcion had a fantastic freshman year with the Wolfpack but took a step backwards in Year 2. He entered the portal seeking a change of scenery and a coaching staff that will fully utilize his speed and shiftiness.
Fellow receiver Terry Bussey is breakout-year candidate. Bussey is speedy and sees the field very well, which earned him the team’s punt returner duties. He’ll be a favorite target for Reed this year alongside Concepcion and Mississippi State transfer Mario Craver.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
