Mike Elko Addresses Potential Marcel Reed National Snub

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed entered the 2026 season with plenty of expectations following a breakout sophomore campaign, but head coach Mike Elko believes his quarterback still isn't receiving the level of recognition he deserves.

Reed helped lead the Aggies to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2025, throwing for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 493 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. Yet despite those numbers and his importance to Texas A&M's success, Reed was left off ESPN's preseason top 100 players and did not receive a spot on the preseason All-SEC teams.

READ MORE: Mike Elko Warns Texas A&M Must Clean Up Fast Before Arizona State

For Elko, that lack of recognition doesn't accurately reflect what Reed has accomplished.

"I just think he doesn't get enough credit," Elko said to reporters on Labor Day. "I wish people would spend more time studying him and watching him and seeing how good he really is. As he continues to move up the all-time passing record of Texas A&M, and he starts to move past some quarterbacks who are very successful quarterbacks here and viewed as very successful quarterbacks here, I just wish people would start to appreciate who he is, what he does, and how successful he's been for us as a starter."

READ MORE: Texas A&M Jumps in ESPN FPI After 50-0 Season-Opening Rout

That was evident during Texas A&M's season-opening victory over Missouri State. Reed completed 21 of his 30 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns as the Aggies cruised to a 50-0 victory.

The Aggies' head coach has also repeatedly highlighted Reed's versatility. His ability to make plays with his arm and legs gives Texas A&M another dimension offensively, while his experience running the offense provides stability for a team with significant expectations entering the season.

Now, Reed will have an opportunity to turn Elko's praise into something even harder to ignore.

Texas A&M enters Week 2 ranked No. 8 nationally and will host Arizona State at Kyle Field. The Sun Devils represent a significantly greater challenge than Missouri State, as they just put up 70 points in their season opener.

For now, Elko isn't worried about the outside noise. He knows what he has in Reed—and believes the rest of the country will eventually figure it out, too.