Everything two Texas A&M players said ahead of Lone Star Showdown

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As the Texas A&M Aggies continue to prepare for the Lone Star Showdown, the postseason implications and year-long bragging rights all hang in the balance, awaiting the outcome of Friday's matchup against the Texas Longhorns in Austin.

This is unlike any other week this season for the Maroon and White, and that sentiment is well-known across the facility. Last year's 17-7 result in College Station against Texas wasn't the outcome first-year head coach Mike Elko was seeking. While the season's triumphs marked the program's first eight-win season since 2021, the Aggies left much to be desired. In 2025, things are mightily different, however.

Texas A&M boasts an 11-0 record for only the third time in school history (1939 and 1992), with an opportunity to reach Atlanta, Georgia, to compete for the Southeastern Conference Championship for the first time since joining the league in 2012.

It all rides on how Elko's squad handles what is sure to be a rowdy road environment in the first contest back at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in 15 years. Experienced leaders like cornerback Will Lee III and offensive lineman Ar'Maj Reed-Adams will be integral in keeping the team focused and level-headed in a rivalry that has seen its fair share of heated moments.

Before the Aggies travel to Austin for what will be a fiesty and competitive battle between in-state rivals, here is what Lee and Reed-Adams said during Tuesday's media availability:

Reed-Adams on the offensive line's thoughts on this year's Heisman race

"On the offensive line, rumor is, we got a mission, 'Project get Marcel the Heisman,'" Reed-Adams said. "If we just do our job and keep him clean, he's going to do it himself. It isn't really a conversation because we already know if we're out there on the field and Marcel is out there, he's got a chance to win every award in the country."

Reed-Adams discusses why Texas A&M's OL deserves the Joe Moore Award

"For starters, for offensive linemen, physicality is one of the highest things on the board and I feel like we're the most physical and most dominant offensive line unit in the country," Reed-Adams said. "Not just each position, but as a unit, we do it better than anybody else."

Reed-Adams on the culture of the program

"It just means more," Reed-Adams said. "Every detail, every minute thing it just means more here. We got the ability to accomplish everything that everybody in the country wants to accomplish. It just gives us a extra bit of motivation."

Reed-Adams speaks on whether there's room for more stickers on the iconic chair

"Definitely, we got room for four more," Reed-Adams said.

Reed-Adams' thoughts on the Lone Star Showdown on Friday

"It feels good, it's the biggest game of the season because it's the next game of the season. We're going to do everything that we've been doing. There's no added pressure. It's a rivalry game so a little bit more hatred, a little bit more emotion and a little bit more attitude so we're just going to try to control that and stay in the green house and do what we're supposed to do," Reed-Adams said.

Lee on the growth of Dalton Brooks

"That's Dalton Brooks, I've never been shocked by it," Lee said. "It happens every day at practice and I feel like us being in this scheme second year, he's more comfortable and he's seeing everything perfectly. He's getting his reads right and he's trusting it.

Lee discusses how Texas A&M has been able to handle the road environments this season

"The togetherness and everybody stay together and everybody's been picking each other up. Nobody has been looking at one side of the ball or the other side of the ball and blaming each other, everybody has been picking each other up and leaning on each other to make plays," Lee said.

Lee on the chair tradition

"That chair has been through a lot," Lee said. "We've had zip-ties put on it. I don't even know if it's the same chair. They've taped it, everything. That chair has been through a lot and just seeing Ar'Maj carry it around, it's a good feeling and very exciting for the team."

Lee's thoughts on the Texas game

"This is the one we've been waiting for," Lee said. "Since SEC Media Day, all the guys have been talking about it and it's finally here so we're working hard to prepare for it and we're real excited about this one."

Lee on the importance of managing emotions on Friday

"How we prepare during the week just keeps us balanced. We know what we're about to do and we know what we're about to get," Lee said. "We got to key into the stuff we know. All the little rivalry chitter-chat, we're just not going to worry about it and do what we do."

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M players preview Lone Star Showdown against Texas

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