Marcel Reed embraces his new "Gingerbread Man" nickname as Texas A&M's Heisman hopeful leads the Aggies toward redemption against South Carolina.
Ever since taking the place of Jaylen Henderson on the opening drive of the 2023 Texas Bowl, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed has earned a special place with the 12th Man.
His duel-threat spark kept the Aggies in the fight against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The result didn't go A&M's way, but what followed was magical.
His poised play since then has elevated Reed into college football's elite and turned this season into one that could end with another Aggies Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
As if the skill set wasn't enough, Reed now has a new nickname to sum it all up.
During linebacker Taurean York's player presser on Tuesday, while he was making his case for Reed to win the Heisman, Reed was heard from behind the camera saying he's the "gingerbread man."
York backed it up with a hotel-lobby anecdote from the Missouri trip.
"I heard him tell his mom that when we were talking to the family at the hotel on Friday, he told him mom that he was the gingerbread man," York said.
When asked what it all meant, Reed answered with confidence while borrowing from the classic nursery rhyme.
"You can't catch me," Reed said.
For those who are strangely unfamiliar, as I was, the full citation is this:
"Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man."
Defenses have learned that the hard way.
Reed has scrambled 69 times for 378 yards and six scores, including a season-high 108 yards and two touchdowns in the win over LSU.
This past weekend at Missouri marked his first game since the SEC opener against Auburn that he was held without a rushing score. Yet, he still put the game on ice through the air with 221 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-17 win.
Believe it or not, his rushing volume is down from 2024, when he logged 116 carries for 547 yards and seven scores during a part-time starting role.
Context helps explain all this.
Nearly one-third of those late-season carries came while running back Le'Veon Moss and Rueben Owens were sidelined in 2024. With Moss out again this season, Reed's carries have increased.
But he's also getting more chances to showcase his arm thanks to the Aggies' speed receivers.
"The Gingerbread Man" and the Aggies now aim to right another wrong from 2024 when they host South Carolina on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Kyle Field in College Station.
Just try and catch him.