Chris Huston (00:01.811)
Marcel Reed quarterback for the number three Texas A Aggies is one of the best players in all of college football. So far this season he has passed for 1,972 yards and 17 touchdowns to go with 349 rushing yards and six rushing TDs. He can hurt you with his arm or with his feet and he joins us now on the Heisman Trophy podcast. Welcome Marcel.

Marcel Reed (00:24.334)
Thank you for having me.

Chris Huston (00:26.859)
So with the big 49-25 win last Saturday over LSU, your Aggies moved to 8-0 for the first time since 1992. That was before the internet became a thing. Explain to our listeners the sensation of being part of a team, doing things that no Aggie team has done in over three decades.

Marcel Reed (00:45.4)
Yeah, feels amazing. Just with the group of guys that come out and work as hard as we do every day, it's no surprise to us that we are where we are right now. And there's still a lot in front of us that we have to continue to build on. But yeah, so far it's been a good experience to be a part of a team like this with great coaches like this. And the locker room is always happy and we're just trying to build on it.

Chris Huston (01:09.707)
You pulled away from LSU in the second half last Saturday after being down 18 to 14, just a dominating second half. What was the discussion in the locker room at halftime and what were you telling yourself as you prepared to come out for that third quarter?

Marcel Reed (01:24.728)
The discussion was just that we knew that we were the better team and that it wasn't gonna be an easy fight. Obviously we were in Death Valley, which is a great site with good fans and a good team playing on the road for us.

We just had to come out with a lot of energy and then we knew that, you know, they were just going to take execution. All those points that they scored and everything that happened well for them was based off of negative things that we did to ourselves. So we just made those adjustments and then we came out in the second half. you know, obviously had a good kickoff return by Terry Bussey to kick us off and then drive score, defense makes a stop, drive score again and then we have a punt return. So things went really well for us.

us, you know, just settle down and play our game of football.

Chris Huston (02:12.491)
Yeah, you mentioned the setting in Death Valley. mean, what's really impressive about this eight no start is three of those wins have come on the road, including at really tough places like Death Valley, like Notre Dame Stadium. You got to buy this weekend, but then it's off for your third straight road trip to play Missouri. Your average offensive output, you yourself is stronger on the road than at home this year, and that's not how it's supposed to be. So why do you think that is?

Marcel Reed (02:36.994)
I love playing on the road. I've been this type of way since I was in high school, but I love the opportunity to wear white jerseys and play in somebody else's environment, to wear everybody else's loud while I'm on the field, and then they're quiet when we get in the end zone. just that type of feeling is something that juices me up when I go into those games. And I just really love the environments.

Chris Huston (02:58.283)
13 years ago, your offensive coordinator, Colin Klein, made his own serious run at the Heisman Trophy while playing for Kansas State. Like you, he was a dual threat quarterback and a tough leader who often willed his team to victory. What kind of advice has he given you on handling the pressures of these big college football moments?

Marcel Reed (03:16.684)
Yeah, I mean, we talk all the time every Sunday after games. We just sit down and have a little chat, a debrief. And he always kind of tells me that if I ever need anything from him, a part of this kind of media stuff and just how to handle it, I could always come to him. So far, I think I've done a pretty good job of leaving it outside because none of this stuff is important until it's important.

We still have four games to play in the regular season. that's what my focus is on. But yeah, obviously he's been in this position and he's just doing a really good job right now of being a coach and making sure that I'm in the best opportunity and position to go out there on Saturdays and win football games.

Chris Huston (03:54.591)
You know, the other day coach Klein said you were absolutely a Heisman candidate and we're getting to that point in the season where that kind of chatter is getting more intense. Has it crossed your mind much lately that, you know, in addition to playing for the national title, potentially down the road, there's the Heisman out there also as a potential prize for the taking.

Marcel Reed (04:12.312)
Yeah, obviously seen it on the media and it's possible, but like I said, none of it's important until it's important. I gotta keep putting games out there that are pretty good and keep winning games as well to get to either one of those. So like I said, that's my main focus, trying to win games and we got Missouri next, so that's what we're focusing on right now.

Chris Huston (04:30.622)
Does the possibility of claiming the Heisman make you even more competitive than you already are?

Marcel Reed (04:35.578)
I don't think any trophy is going to make me even more competitive. think, you know, I'm already trying to reach something really high. So just trying to get to, you know, SEC and National Championship, though that's enough motivation so far. You know, if my play ends up getting me one of those trophies, then I'll be satisfied.

Chris Huston (04:53.086)
I read that you had a chat this past August with Aggies most recent Heisman winner Johnny Manziel. Do you mind sharing some of what you guys talked about?

Marcel Reed (05:00.846)
Yeah, he just kind of hit me up after fall camp. Give me a little bit of advice on some throws and stuff that he watched over Twitter. Just how to connect more a little bit on those and what he did with people like Mike Evans back in his time here. So gave me a little bit of that advice. And then he calls me just about every week after games just to congratulate me, tell me to keep the boys rolling, keep being a leader and stuff like that. So it's pretty cool.

Chris Huston (05:26.482)
One thing you have on him is that you're two and O against LSU so far in your career. And he went on two against the Tigers. Has that come up at all?

Marcel Reed (05:33.71)
No, I don't really I didn't know that at all until you just told me so maybe I'll bring it up next time

Chris Huston (05:36.986)
yeah. Yeah. Good. going back to your high school days coming out of Nashville, seems like you were a bit overlooked. I checked over some of the recruiting rankings and there were quite a few quarterbacks with some big names ranked ahead of you who are not doing the kind of things you're doing now. Was there a bit of a chip on your shoulder as a result of that process?

Marcel Reed (05:56.666)
Not really, I mean I never really cared about where I was placed. I knew that the schools that gave me an opportunity were giving me a chance to go play football. So you know I took you know that one opportunity that I had, well I had multiple but I took I took an opportunity here at Texas A &M and you know it seemed to work out pretty well for me so really happy just that I was able to get recruited and I was high enough to be recruited by some SEC schools to where I could be in this position now.

Chris Huston (06:23.179)
You originally committed to Mississippi before switching over to A What was the deciding factor for you to make that change and come to College Station?

Marcel Reed (06:31.406)
I think it was just kind of a family decision. Families from Texas, my dad was born in Marshall, my sister's from Texas as well. And I have a lot of family that live in Dallas. So just kind of being closer to them is kind of like a second home for me.

I know I went through Christmas. I did Christmas in Texas all my life aside from when I had to play basketball tournaments from high school. But up until then, yeah, I did Christmas in Texas all my life. So like I said, this is just a second home for me. I felt comfortable here with the staff and how they welcomed me. And then just the class of 23 recruiting class that we had here as I think something special. You see a lot of people like Torrey in York, Ruben Owens and Don Brooks that were all in that class.

We kind of just bonded that first visit we all had together. And I think just about 90 % of the people that were on that visit committed here. So we've been brothers since.

Chris Huston (07:23.583)
It must have been super helpful having a dad who was a head coach in college football. What kind of advice did he give you about playing college football?

Marcel Reed (07:31.33)
Yeah, he kind of gave me more of advice on the defensive side of things. Knowing I'm a quarterback, he gave me some help with identifying coverages and how to read things and how to be able to go into meetings as a recruit and draw up on the board.

So, you know, he's done a lot. He's turned a little bit more into a dad now that we've gotten into the thick of college a little bit. But I remember when we were in high school, he wasn't coaching anymore. used to be the only parent in the stands watching practice. And so, yeah, he's definitely done a lot for me. He kind of is just one of those people that helps me keep my head on straight and keeps me humble and lets me know that, like, there's still a lot of room for improvement and that I need to grind every day to get to where I want to be.

Chris Huston (08:13.663)
Yeah, know, NIL is now a big thing in college athletics, but to be honest, most of the deals I've seen out there look fairly boring, with the exception of your Sonic deal that saw you do an acting class with actor Terry Crews. He's like one of the funniest dudes around. I just want to know, what was it like to look into those intense eyes and do that acting practice?

Marcel Reed (08:34.862)
It was pretty hard, I'm not gonna lie. That was just the video of the take that we got. There was probably about five or six more where I couldn't hold in my laugh. So it was pretty hard to just stare in his eyes without laughing. He actually is one of the funniest people I've ever met and his mannerisms are insane. So it's hard not to laugh.

Chris Huston (08:55.967)
They give you a new respect for just how difficult it is to be an actor.

Marcel Reed (08:59.758)
yeah, for sure. I mean, there's a lot of takes that go into that. I bet a lot of hours too, so yeah.

Chris Huston (09:04.819)
Yeah. All right. Let's do a few rapid fire questions to close you out here. What's your favorite part about playing quarterback?

Marcel Reed (09:12.882)
Ah, probably not gonna get to touch the ball every play. You know, I'm pretty sure a lot of people want to touch the ball every play, so yeah, that would

Chris Huston (09:18.844)
What type of defenders present you with the biggest challenges? Is like speedy edge rushers or spying linebackers or rangy safeties? Who do you look out for or try to avoid when you're on the field?

Marcel Reed (09:29.592)
I'd say laterally quick edge rushers, know, people who can change direction pretty well. Not so much the speed, but people who can, you know, twitch and get side to side, yeah.

Chris Huston (09:39.275)
Do you have any superstitions on or off the field?

Marcel Reed (09:42.83)
I have a lot. So I have a pair of Bob Ross underwear that I've been wearing since high school. The PSD underwear says no mistakes, just happy accidents. They've been washed. They're washed every week. But funny story, I actually had to wash them in the sink at the hotel at LSU. And to dry them off, I air dried them on the little hanger on Friday night. They didn't dry all the way, so I had to put them on the iron.

Chris Huston (09:44.406)
yeah? Tell me about them.

Chris Huston (09:54.773)
They've been washed in the meantime though. Okay, good. Okay, good. Okay.

Marcel Reed (10:12.119)
Saturday morning. Yeah. Yes, Sir.

Chris Huston (10:12.266)
Ironing your underwear. That's meticulous. That's planning. is wait, but only you only wear them for the, you wear the same underwear every, every game, right? But not like during the week.

Marcel Reed (10:23.948)
I only wear them on Saturday. Yes, sir.

Chris Huston (10:25.66)
Okay, got it, got it, okay. Okay, what do you wish fans understood about learning an offense?

Marcel Reed (10:33.934)
Mmm.

Marcel Reed (10:38.542)
I wish fans understood about learning an offense. I guess that it takes time and it takes continuity. So, you know, don't be mad when you don't see things go the right way because, know, there's still going to be nicks and bruises and kind of kinks that they're still trying to get figured out week to week just because there's different, you know, adjustments made from defense to defense that you go against.

Chris Huston (10:47.839)
Mm-hmm.

Chris Huston (11:03.092)
Yeah. What's one thing you're trying to unlearn as you grow into this role?

Marcel Reed (11:09.038)
trying to unlearn.

Marcel Reed (11:13.377)
as a quarterback.

Marcel Reed (11:19.448)
So.

Chris Huston (11:21.194)
Or you have it all figured out? There's not something you want to do less of?

Marcel Reed (11:25.934)
turn the ball over. that's one thing. I can't even think of anything else. Exactly. don't, yeah, I can't even think of something else.

Chris Huston (11:26.994)
Yeah, well you don't learn that you just you either do or you don't right Fair enough, let's say ten years from now someone who's never watched you plays your tape What two traits do you absolutely want to show up on that tape and what's one habit? Do you hope that never shows up again? I guess this could relate to kind of the previous question

Marcel Reed (11:48.674)
Yeah, one habit is definitely the turnovers. then, you know, two traits, think. My play extensions. And then...

Chris Huston (11:50.74)
Yeah.

Chris Huston (11:58.75)
Mm-hmm.

Marcel Reed (12:02.382)
I want my composer to show up. I want them to see my composer. I think I'm pretty composed.

Chris Huston (12:04.426)
You've won some big games on the road, close ones too. What's a talent you have that few people know about?

Marcel Reed (12:13.134)
I know how to juggle. I know how to juggle. I can play the saxophone.

Chris Huston (12:15.112)
No way. You know, you're the second, you're the second quarterback that I've talked to on the show, who can, who said juggling and the other one was Jayden Maiava of USC who, who you played against in the, in the bowl game. we should have a juggling contest. How many balls can you juggle?

Marcel Reed (12:23.576)
Yeah.

Marcel Reed (12:31.95)
I could juggle three, can probably do four. I can't do four like continuous like this. I can go like one, two in each hand, but I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Chris Huston (12:38.244)
huh. Got it. Yeah. Jaden said he can, Jaden can do four. So.

Marcel Reed (12:45.182)
Shoot, that's California stuff, I love it.

Chris Huston (12:48.225)
All right, finally, do you have any messages that you want to send to Aggies fans out there?

Marcel Reed (12:53.582)
12th Man we love you and we appreciate your support. Keep showing out.

Chris Huston (12:58.484)
Well, Marcel Reed, quarterback for the Texas A Aggies. Thanks for coming on the Heisman Trophy podcast. Good luck against Mizzou a couple Saturdays from now and best of luck to your team the rest of the year. Thank you.

Marcel Reed (13:08.404)
Thank you.