A new QB coach candidate for Texas A&M has emerged

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Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is close to putting the finishing touches on his 2026 coaching staff, already elevating Holmon Wiggins as the program’s new offensive coordinator and Lyle Hemphill as the new defensive coordinator, while hiring several new staff members over the past month.

After falling to Miami 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Elko has shifted his focus to adding star players from the transfer portal, as he needs to replace several starters on the offensive and defensive lines. Still, one of the underrated storylines of the offseason is who Elko will hire as the team’s new quarterbacks coach, as incoming redshirt junior signal-caller Marcel Reed’s progression will hinge on the quality of the hire.

After throwing for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns during the 2025 season, Reed’s turnover issues late in the year included 12 interceptions and eight turnovers against South Carolina, Texas, and Miami. Knowing that the offensive line will feature new faces in 2026, Reed will need to become a much more proficient passer and, most importantly, get the ball out of his hands in under three seconds.

This week, after Clemson’s 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl, the Tigers’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Garrett Riley, will not be retained heading into the 2026 season, and has emerged as a potential replacement for Texas A&M OC Collin Klein, now Kansas State’s head coach, who also served as the Aggies’ quarterbacks coach.

While Clemson’s offense never found its footing under Riley’s playcalling, he is still considered a more-than-serviceable quarterbacks coach, helping former TCU QB Max Duggan during the Horned Frogs’ run to the CFP National Championship Game in 2022.

It’s also important to note that when coaches are focused on one task, those who have struggled in two roles have bounced back in previous years.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Should Texas A&M hire Garrett Riley as the new quarterbacks coach?

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