Sometimes the only way to silence the doubters is by performing so well on the gridiron that the naysayers have no choice but to respect you.
In just his second season in Bryan-College Station, Texas, sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed has done just that, by building upon his Heisman campaign with impressive performances every Saturday that he exits the tunnel and steps onto the field against some of the most elite defensive units in the country.
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Entering the Week 9 contest in Death Valley, LSU’s defense ranked as a top-five unit in the Southeastern Conference, but Reed never backed down. In fact, he threw for 202 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air, while also rushing for 108 yards and two scores on the ground in one of the most hostile environments in college football. Defeating the Tigers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a feat that had been untouched by Texas A&M since 1994, until Reed helped lead the Aggies to one of the most massive victories of the season so far, while also solidifying his name as one of the frontrunners in the Heisman candidacy.
From his offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who finished third in the Heisman voting when former Aggie legend Johnny Manziel secured the trophy in 2012, to members of the media and former professional football players, everyone is backing the Texas A&M gunslinger.
During Monday’s media availability, Klein emphasized the team’s overall effort that has helped put the Aggies, including Reed, in the national spotlight, while also giving a firm answer to his thoughts on his quarterback being in contention for the award given to the best player in the country.
“It is a team award. You’re not even in that conversation unless you’re in big football games and winning games,” Klein said. “He has grown as a tremendous leader to every position group… There is still a lot of season left. We have to keep our heads down and be process-driven.”
When asked if Reed should be a Heisman canidate, Klein simply, but emphatically, said, “Absolutely.”
One aspect that the Nashville, Tennessee, native has improved on tremendously from his freshman campaign in 2024 is his decision-making and confidence. There were multiple moments throughout the contest against the Tigers in which Reed torched the LSU defense by staying patient and collected in the pocket, and throwing on the run accurately if there was a collapse.
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This touchdown pass to transfer wideout KC Concepcion is just one of many from Saturday night’s victory that displayed exactly why Reed should undoubtedly be in the conversation as a Heisman candidate.
As a dual-threat quarterback, Reed’s vision to find cracks in the defense and exploit them by using his natural athleticism as a runner makes him one of the most dangerous and explosive threats for teams to prepare for. He slices through defenses like butter if given any sliver of space.
His breakaway speed is another reason why the LSU defense struggled to stop him when given any kind of space. According to Reel Analytics, who measure top-reached speeds of college football players every week, Reed hit 20.3 miles per hour on his 41-yard touchdown scramble.
With just four games left on Texas A&M’s regular season schedule in 2025, Reed ranks No. 4 in the SEC with 1,972 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, while also ranking No. 5 in quarterback rating (155.50) and passing yards per game (246.5).
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His contributions on the field and as a leader in the Aggies’ locker room have been integral to the Maroon and White’s success this season. If the sophomore signal-caller can continue to record impressive outings against league competition, he should be a lock as a Heisman candidate at the end of the regular season.
If you’d like to cast your vote for the Texas A&M quarterback in the Heisman Trophy race, here are the steps to do so:
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Marcel Reed’s rise makes him impossible to ignore in Heisman race
