Aggies' Marcel Reed Lands Top 10 in Josh Pate’s SEC QB Rankings

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Marcel Reed has spent much of the offseason being discussed as one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in college football. Apparently, that still isn’t enough to convince Josh Pate.

The Texas A&M quarterback landed at No. 8 in Pate’s updated SEC quarterback rankings, a placement that will undoubtedly get the attention of Aggies fans as the 2026 season approaches.

MORE: Texas A&M’s NFL Pipeline Is Booming as Aggies Climb 2026 Depth Charts

Pate has consistently been bullish on Texas A&M under Mike Elko. He believes Elko has the program moving toward becoming a legitimate annual national contender.

But Reed remains one of the biggest variables in determining whether A&M actually gets there.

The talent isn’t the problem.

Reed has already shown the athleticism, arm strength and playmaking ability to stress defenses in ways few quarterbacks can.

For long stretches of last season, he played well enough to keep Texas A&M in the national championship conversation while also generating legitimate Heisman Trophy buzz.

The problem is what happened late.

A&M’s struggles against Texas and Miami became difficult to ignore, and Reed wasn’t nearly as sharp when the Aggies needed him most.

Those performances appear to have carried significant weight in Pate’s evaluation.

In fact, Pate described Reed as the most difficult quarterback on his list to rank.

That’s probably the most revealing part of this whole discussion.

Reed isn’t being viewed as some mediocre SEC quarterback. He’s being viewed as a quarterback whose ceiling and floor are still miles apart.

At his best, Reed can look like one of the five most dangerous quarterbacks in the conference.

When the offense loses rhythm and defenses force him to operate consistently from the pocket, however, questions about decision-making and execution start showing up.

That makes 2026 a fascinating test.

If Reed becomes more consistent against elite defenses, a No. 8 ranking could look ridiculous by October. If the same late-season issues resurface, Pate’s skepticism will look justified.

And that’s where the pressure shifts to Elko and the Aggies.

MORE: Aggies First-Round Pick KC Concepcion 'Ready' to Prove Himself With Browns

Texas A&M doesn’t need Reed to become a completely different quarterback. It needs him to become a more dependable version of the player who already flashed star potential.

No. 8 might feel disrespectful right now. Reed gets the chance to change that conversation soon enough.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos