Texas A&M (10-0, 7-0 SEC) remains the No. 3-ranked team in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 after Saturday’s 31-30 comeback win over South Carolina (3-7, 1-7 SEC), as the Aggies trailed 30-3 at halftime, only to surge back behind an elite defensive effort, and starting quarterback Marcel Reed’s memorable second-half performance after throwing for 298 yards and three touchdows after halftime.
After throwing two first-half interceptions, Reed went on an absolute tear, looking like the Heisman candidate we have all watched this season, while connecting with wide receivers KC Concepcion (7 rec, 158 yards) and Ashton Bethel-Roman (4 rec, 139 yards 1 TD) for a combined 297 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt freshman receiver Izaiah Williams recorded his first three receptions of the season for 50 yards and three touchdowns.
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Texas A&M’s defense, after allowing 30 points in the first half, completely shut down South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers, limiting the Gamecocks to under 80 yards in the second half, and produced four sacks and nearly 20 pressures, including two sacks during South Carolina’s final offensive drive.
After the historic win, Texas A&M’s path to the College Football Playoff is all but secure. At the same time, the Aggies need to win out, including a road win over Texas to secure the program’s first trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.
In an effort to provide more context regarding A&M’s performance on both sides of the ball, here are the updated Pro Football Focus grades heading into Week 13, focusing on the top eight players on offense and defense.
Offense
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WR Izaiah Williams — 91.0
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WR KC Concepcion — 76.5
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OL Trey Zuhn III — 76.5
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TE Nate Boerkircher — 67.4
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OL Mark Nabour Jr. — 67.2
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What a day for Texas A&M’s offense, which produced 503 yards behind Marcel Reed’s 439 career-high 439 passing yards and three touchdowns. After combining for 297 yards through the air, wide receiver KC Concepcion took care of business on nearly every down in the second half.
In the trenches, despite a poor first half, left tackle Trey Zuhn finished with an elite 96.0 pass protection grade, followed by six players, including four offensive linemen, earning protection grades of 72 or above. However, behind a poor 64 yards rushing, the run blocking was average to below average in both zone and gap. Texas A&M’s O-line allowed nine pressures, including four from correct tackle Dametreous Crownover.
Marcel Reed, despite his poor start, was beyond elite in the second half, and thrived on deep throws, earning a prolific 91.4 pass grade, completing 4/5 from 20-plus yards, including his 27-yard touchdown to Izaiah Williams, and 39-yard score to Ashton Bethel-Roman.
Defense
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OLB Rylan Kennedy — 71.6
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After giving up 30 points in the first half, Texas A&M’s pass rush and secondary stepped up in a big way, shutting down the Gamecocks to under 80 yards in the second half, led by cornerback Dezz Ricks’ impressive day in coverage, allowing just three receptions for 33 yards, paired with two pass breakups.
Star linebacker Taurean York, who earned a poor run defense score against Missouri, rebounded on Saturday with a team-high 77.0 run defense grade and an elite 84.5 tackling grade. As a team, the Aggies produced 19 pressures and four sacks, led by Dayon Hayes’ six pressures, followed by three from safety Dalton Brooks, who led the team with an 82.3 pass rush grade.
Senior edge Cashius Howell produced two pressures and three passes, and surprisingly led the Aggies with an 82.5 coverage grade while dropping back. As a team, Texas A&M slightly improved in the tackling department, missing nine tackles on Saturday, with most coming in the first half.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Notable PFF grades after Texas A&M’s 31-30 win over South Carolina
