Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State is just two weeks away, and after 11 preseason practices, the Aggies' revamped roster, including 17 transfer portal additions, will replace 15 outgoing starters and over 20 offseason departures, which, on paper, looks like a rebuild to the naked eye.
However, among the 15 starters who have left the program, quarterback Marcel Reed, who is entering his second full starting season, is well equipped to match his career-high 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns last season, but needs to cut down on his turnover issues after throwing 12 interceptions, which was also a career high.
Reed's numbers were nearly identical to Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning last season, but the national perception that the Aggie signal caller has not improved as a passer, despite his 2025 numbers, was on full display in the SEC Coaches All-SEC Football Team, as Reed failed to make the first, second, or third teams.
Still, the Tennessee native is completely focused on proving the rest of his doubters wrong, starting with Missouri State, who just announced its starting quarterback for the season opener on Sept. 5, as senior Skyler Locklear will return under center after passing for 1,418 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions during the 2025 season.
Texas A&M's defense, which now includes Northwestern transfer Edge Anto Saka and one of the deepest secondaries in the country, will have its hands full against Locklear and the rest of the Missouri State offense, hoping to score early to have any shot at keeping things close after halftime. This will be Skyler Locklear's first season with the program after transferring from UTEP.
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However, among the 15 starters who have left the program, quarterback Marcel Reed, who is entering his second full starting season, is well equipped to match his career-high 3,169 passing yards and 25 touchdowns last season, but needs to cut down on his turnover issues after throwing 12 interceptions, which was also a career high.
Reed's numbers were nearly identical to Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning last season, but the national perception that the Aggie signal caller has not improved as a passer, despite his 2025 numbers, was on full display in the SEC Coaches All-SEC Football Team, as Reed failed to make the first, second, or third teams.
Still, the Tennessee native is completely focused on proving the rest of his doubters wrong, starting with Missouri State, who just announced its starting quarterback for the season opener on Sept. 5, as senior Skyler Locklear will return under center after passing for 1,418 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions during the 2025 season.
Texas A&M's defense, which now includes Northwestern transfer Edge Anto Saka and one of the deepest secondaries in the country, will have its hands full against Locklear and the rest of the Missouri State offense, hoping to score early to have any shot at keeping things close after halftime. This will be Skyler Locklear's first season with the program after transferring from UTEP.
#full
2 months ago
