Texas A&M fans can breathe a sigh of relief they’ve been holding off for three years, as the Aggies beat Florida 33-20 on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for their first road win since 2021. A&M shook off the absence of redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman and got some great play from redshirt freshman Marcel Reed under center.
Here are five takeaways from the Aggies’ SEC-opening win.
Marcel Ried’s performance forces coaches to make tough decisions
An AC sprain in Weigman’s right throwing shoulder forced Reed into his first career start, but he showed the poise and presence of a veteran point guard. After a solid second half in last week’s win over McNeese State, Reed showed what he could do against Florida.
RELATED: Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman out with AC sprain in throwing shoulder
The Nashville, Tennessee native was flawless in the air and on the ground, completing 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, while also using his legs to add another 83 yards and a score. Every moment was big for Reed, who took care of the ball and never wavered on third and fourth downs.
“He was calm, he was confident and he made a pass on the first drive,” coach Mike Elko said. “I thought he made a great pass on third down. It was really, really good to watch. He was consistent all day and played at a really, really high level. We knew he was going to be able to go out there and do it.”
Reid was impressive in not trailing in the conference opener in a difficult road environment, and he’ll be a big asset to the team if Weigman isn’t 100 percent, but even if Weigman returns to full fitness, A&M’s coaching staff will be good about continuing to find ways to keep Reid involved in the offense.
The defense was ready for both Florida quarterbacks.
The Aggies came into the game facing the unique challenge of playing with two quarterbacks in redshirt senior Graham Mertz and freshman DJ Lagway, and while a shaky defense didn’t help matters, Mertz was solid, completing 12 of 15 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown.
But Lagway was different. His arm and legs were inconsistent. A&M neutralized Lagway’s two-way talent with two sacks, limiting him to minus-20 yards. A&M’s defense was excellent in a scoreless first half, but they kept Florida from mounting a consistent offense in the third and fourth quarters.
The Aggies won the turnover battle decisively with three interceptions, marking the second straight game with two or more interceptions. San Diego State transfer safety Marcus Ratcliff, third-year safety Bryce Anderson and sophomore cornerback Javon Thomas all recorded interceptions, with Ratcliff recording his second straight game with an interception and Anderson returning a Mertz interception for a touchdown.
The Aggies offensive line has improved greatly.
Saturday’s matchup showed just how important an effective offensive line is to a team’s ability to move the ball downfield — a lesson A&M learned firsthand last year when a weak line gave the quarterback and backfield little room to maneuver.
The game against Florida was different, with Reed and junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels able to move their feet freely. The offensive line provided key blocks to allow the playmakers to thrive while also trying to create opportunities for the run game. The Aggies protected Reed in the pocket and didn’t allow a sack.
“SEC offenses played physical today,” Elko said. “That’s the kind of play you need to play if you want to win games on the road. Le’Veon averaging over 100 yards, over six yards per carry, Marcel Reed averaging over six yards per carry, Amari Daniels averaging over five yards per carry, that’s what we want to do.”
The work that is done in the trenches isn’t the most glamorous part of the game of football, but it’s essential to a successful offense, and if the Aggies line can continue to play at an effective level, we’re sure to see more points on the scoreboard — and maybe even a statue of coach Adam Cushing.
A&M’s run defense makes big strides
Elko was blunt in calling the Aggies’ run defense “terrible,” having allowed an average of 189 rushing yards through the first two games. His assessment may not have been as harsh considering the Gators’ run defense was limited to just 52 yards on Saturday, averaging 2.1 yards per carry.
“We just didn’t allow any big runs,” Elko said. “If you look at our run efficiency today, we had a better fit, a better line, tighter lines and didn’t let the ball go out. If we can just not let the ball go out, we’re going to be really good.”
The Aggies contained the unit from start to finish, save for a two-yard run by redshirt junior running back Jakobi Jackson into the end zone with five minutes left in the game. Perhaps most impressively, senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr., who averaged 86.5 yards through the first two games of the season, was held to minus-7 yards and failed to gain more than two yards on a single run.
The unit’s improved approach to one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses is a big step forward with the tough stretch of SEC play looming. With two sacks and one forced fumble, A&M’s defensive line is starting to look like the type of fit fans have come to expect from this storied group.
A&M’s offense will be anchored by the run game.
Given the wet, muddy conditions in the Swamp, the Aggies may have been told to run the ball more than usual, and it paid off, as they broke down the Gators defense with consecutive drives downfield. A&M didn’t need to rely on the pass as much, with 310 of its 488 total yards coming on the ground.
The backfield depth gives the Aggies offense another dimension that was lacking in 2023. Moss has developed into one of the conference’s top running backs after his 110-yard performance, and Daniels also has reliable feet with 68 yards. Heck, even alum RB EJ Smith, son of Florida and NFL legend Emmitt Smith, gained 24 yards on six carries.
It’s yet another testament to the success of the offensive line that allows them to play this way. Teams perform best when they can score in a variety of ways, and the addition of A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein is already paying off.
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