Texas A&M football earned its third win Saturday, defeating Bowling Green 26-20. And they did it once again without their Week 1 starting quarterback under center.
Instead, Marcel Reed started his second game in as many weeks. Things may not have been as clean as they were for the Aggies in The Swamp last week against the Florida Gators, but Reed and Co. found a way to get the job done and improve their record in Week 4.
3 TAKEAWAYS: Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed flighting to keep QB1 job; defense does just enough
Next, Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) will head to AT&T Stadium for a matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks (3-1).
Here’s how the Aggies graded out Saturday:
Quarterbacks: B+
There was far less mystery this week centered around the quarterback position, with coach Mike Elko alluding to Conner Weigman being “week-to-week” Monday while talking with reporters. It set the stage for Reed to get the nod under center once again.
Reed wasn’t as clean this time around, finishing 16-for-29 for 173 passing yards and two touchdowns and adding 12 carries for 91 yards on the ground. Despite some mistakes and drives that stalled out, it’s clear that Reed brings a unique element to this offense.
FULL RECAP: Texas A&M Aggies hold off Falcons to improve to 3-1
Running backs: B
led by Le’Veon Moss, this group was efficient but not all that dynamic. The running game gets a boost from the legs of Reed, but the running backs as a whole were more steady than flashy, and that’s OK. Moss finished with 90 yards on 16 carries, while the rest of the group combined for 56 yards. They fought hard and converted first downs, and that may be the most important note to take away from them Saturday night.
Receivers: C+
The grade for the wide receivers is a reflection of the passing game as a whole. At times, it looked to be in rhythm, while at others, it was stagnant and unable to find consistency. Seven receivers caught passes, totaling 16 receptions and 173 yards.
Noah Thomas led the team with five catches (38 yards) and Jahdae Walker led with 45 yards (three catches). It feels like as Reed evolves, so will this group.
Offensive line: B-
Bowling Green made it tough at times for the big fellas. Committing to the run despite facing eight-man fronts from BGSU is difficult for any group. However, the O-line kept Reed upright, and Moss and Co. were able to be productive on the ground, at better than 5 yards per carry. That feels like a success for a group battered by injury. A&M is already down its starting center and had two more linemen leave the field Saturday.
INJURY UPDATE: Texas A&M OL TJ Shanahan leaves game vs. Bowling Green
Defensive line: C+
Edge Nic Scourton said it best when talking to reporters postgame — the defensive line played too “loose” at times and didn’t live up to the standard they set for themselves. Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart were highlights among the group, with a sack apiece.
Bowling Green was able to make plays in the run and pass that allowed them to stay in the game to the end. The Falcons scored 14 points on the back of big plays in the third quarter. If A&M wants to take this season to another level, Scourton knows he and his groupmates will need to elevate their game.
Linebackers: A
Taurean York and his positionmates fly to the ball and make plays in space, and they did that all night against Bowling Green. York and Scooby Williams combined for 13 total tackles and set the tone all game, fighting to make stops and keep the Falcons at bay. This is a young and exciting group and they showed exactly that on Saturday night.
Defensive back: B
The Aggie defensive backs had their hands full all game. Starting safety Bryce Anderson came into the game drawing a tough assignment against Harold Fannin Jr.. Fannin finished the game with eight receptions, 145 receiving yards, and one touchdown, continuing the trend of him being Bowling Green’s most trusted target.
The better news for the group is that Bowling Green wideouts combined for just four catches as running backs and tight ends dominated the targets.
Special teams: A
Saturday’s performance was stellar for kicker Randy Bond and the Aggies’ special teams unit. Bond finished the night going four-for-four on kicks from 42, 34, 29, and 28 yards, which was crucial to their victory. Having reliable special teams is paramount to a team’s success, and without this group stepping up tonight, the Aggies may not have gotten the job done.
Coaches: B+
Week 4 was another quality performance from Coach Elko and Co. Facing a scrappy opponent with nothing to lose and navigating it with your inexperienced backup quarterback is no easy feat. There were ebbs and flows to Saturday night’s game, and Elko’s boys responded well to get the job done. It may not have looked clean at times, but they found a way to win, and that’s what is important to the decision-makers.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas A&M vs. Bowling Green: Aggies grades for Week 4 win
