All eyes are on No. 25 Texas A&M’s quarterback scenario this week because the staff prepares to stand Bowling Inexperienced on Saturday in Faculty Station.
Beginning quarterback Conner Weigman stays “daily,” Aggies trainer Mike Elko mentioned Monday. Freshman Marcel Reed, who had an awesome recreation in main A&M previous Florida final weekend, is the opposite choice.
“We’re going to proceed to regulate the quarterback room similar to how we’ve got and play the fellow Saturday that we expect offers us the most productive probability to win,” Elko mentioned.
Reed regarded the phase in his first faculty get started towards the Gators, finishing 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns. He additionally rushed for 83 yards and a TD within the 33-20 win. That efficiency earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
Out of doors of the quarterback scenario, A&M has had little to whinge about since its season-opening loss to Notre Dame. The Aggies rolled previous McNeese on Sept. 7 after which had little hassle getting through Florida within the Swamp.
The season is younger, however the Aggies have proven indicators of a robust operating recreation, averaging 263 yards in line with recreation at the flooring. Defensively, they’ve a mixed 15 tackles for loss and 5 interceptions.
Bowling Inexperienced trainer Scot Loeffler understands the problem forward for his staff. The MAC has held its personal to this point towards energy colleges, particularly Northern Illinois shocking Notre Dame and Toledo routing Mississippi State. Bowling Inexperienced nearly joined the record, protecting a halftime lead towards No. 10 Penn State prior to falling 34-27 final weekend.
That is every other alternative for the Falcons to make a observation however, in truth, there’s a reason why oddsmakers had them open as a 23 1/2-point underdog.
“We have now were given our palms complete,” Loeffler mentioned. “It is a very, very proficient staff. There is some issues the place they are very, very sturdy at that is roughly our weaknesses slightly bit.
“So, we now have were given to seek out other ways to get issues executed as a result of they are large, they are robust, tremendous sturdy, athletic. The whole thing that you’d bring to mind relating to an SEC staff.”
The Falcons are led through a former SEC quarterback, Connor Bazelak, who began his faculty profession at Missouri. Bazelak has finished 65.6 p.c of his passes to this point with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He is additionally rushed for a rating.
Bowling Inexperienced’s playmakers come with tight finish Harold Fannin Jr., who had 11 catches for 137 yards and one TD at Penn State.
“It is a truly skilled offensive crew,” Elko mentioned of Bowling Inexperienced. “They provide a large number of rigidity on you with how they run their machine. They do a truly, truly excellent activity. And so this can be a proficient crew needless to say.”
For Elko, the matchup additionally brings again some fond recollections of his early training days. He was once Bowling Inexperienced’s defensive coordinator from 2009-13 underneath Dave Clawson. The Falcons went 10-4 in 2013, Elko’s ultimate season as DC.
“Our circle of relatives completely liked that the city,” Elko mentioned. “We’ve a large number of truly fond recollections, a large number of truly excellent pals that reside up in Bowling Inexperienced. Numerous recognize for that faculty, a large number of recognize for that college and their program.”
This would be the first assembly between Bowling Inexperienced and A&M.
–Box Degree Media
