CBS Sports ranks Texas A&M QB in 'All-conference caliber vets' tier

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Entering his third season at the helm, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko will once again depend on quarterback Marcel Reed to lead the offense after the Tennessee native threw for a career-high 3,169 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions last season, propelling the Aggies to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

This offseason, before a record 10 players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion, Elko and his staff, now including new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins, quickly went to work and added 17 players from the transfer portal, led by the massive addition of former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton.

Bringing much-needed size to an already established wide receiver room led by star junior Mario Craver, Horton should take over as the star X receiver, providing Marcel Reed a 50/50 ball target and reliable red zone option, which should result in the redshirt junior playing with confidence, while improving his accuracy and decision making in the pocket, especially late in the year.

Working with Holmon Wiggins and new QB coach Joey Lynch, the expectations have risen for Marcel Reed, knowing that all the mistakes he made in back-to-back losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the CFP can be fixed with film study, and compared to past SEC quarterbacks’ second full starting season, Reed has certainly gained valuable experience.

Compared to the rest of the notable Power Four quarterbacks, led by Arch Manning (Texas), Dante Moore (Oregon), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), and others, CBS Sports writer David Cobb released his latest QB Tiers before the 2026 season, placing Marcel Reed No. 2 in the second tier among the “All-conference caliber vets” alongside seven other well known signal callers, including former Texas A&M and current Houston QB Conner Weigman.

“Reed is capable of flexing up into the Heisman contender tier if he cuts back on turnovers and continues to improve his efficiency as a passer. But in 2025, he ranked last among Heisman contenders in EPA per dropback. He’s a good freelancer, but he’s not quite a Johnny Manziel-level playmaker.”

Comparing any current college quarterback to Johnny Manziel is simply unfair, and while Reed needs to play more consistently, his playmakers, especially running backs Rueben Owens and Jamarion Morrow, paired with four new starters along the offensive line, must do their part to create a balanced offense, and allow Holmon Wiggins to get creative in the booth.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: CBS Sports ranks QB Marcel Reed in ‘All-conference caliber vets’ tier

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