Marcel Reed burst on the scene as a freshman for the Aggies. Can he continue his development into one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks?
This summer leading up to the 2025 season, we’ll be exploring the top 10 offensive and defensive players Mizzou football is slated to face this fall. We’re not ranking them 1-10, so while Jalon Daniels is a very good player, he’s not necessarily the best offensive player Corey Batoon will have to game plan for this upcoming season.
This is the seventh of (you guessed it) 10 such posts of the season. If you haven’t yet, take a look at the previous TTOP articles:
- Jalon Daniels and Nikhai Hill-Green
- Nyck Harbor and Deontae Lawson
- John Mateer and Jordan Lawson
- Le’Veon Moss and Will Lee III
- Diego Pavia and Dean Miller
- Kadyn Proctor and Dylan Stewart
Marcel Reed
School: Texas A&M
Position: QB
Class: RS Sophomore
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180 lbs.
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
What he’s done
After waiting his turn in one of the SEC’s most turbulent quarterback rooms in one of the most unstable SEC programs (historically at least), Texas A&M sophomore Marcel Reed enters the 2025 season as the surefire leader the Aggies’ offense.
In 2024, Reed’s dual-threat skill set and leadership drew immediate attention during spring practices in College Station, and he quickly established himself as a top backup behind starter Conner Weigman. Once Weigman suffered an injury early in the season, Reed made the most of opportunity, starting (and winning) three straight games against Florida, Bowling Green and Arkansas. After another intermission where he again sat behind Weigman, Reed returned to the starting lineup against South Carolina and would not relinquish the job again.
In his freshman year, Reed showed impressive poise and field vision, particularly for a quarterback still learning the system. He clearly improved every game that he played, finishing the season with 1,864 yards, 15 touchdowns to only six interceptions and a 61% completion rate.
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
What he’ll do
With Weigman no longer on the roster, Reed will take over as the full-time starter in 2025. He fits well in Elko’s system, which emphasizes balance, tempo and quarterback mobility. Reed’s athleticism and ability to run zone reads, escape pressure and hit intermediate throws on the move could help elevate the Aggies’ offense and put them over the top in a crowded middle tier of the SEC.
Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein should tailor the offense around Reed’s strengths: rolling pockets, designed quarterback runs and RPOs that allow him to make quick reads. Reed will be surrounded by veteran talent, including a strong offensive line and multiple returning receivers, giving him every opportunity to succeed in his first year as a starter.
If he can stay healthy and continue progressing as a passer, Reed could quietly become one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the conference.
Mizzou Matchup
Mizzou fans will remember last year’s blowout loss to Texas A&M in College Station, but what may have been forgotten is that head coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff spent much of the week preparing (publicly so) for Marcel Reed.
With Weigman considered questionable leading up to the game, it was clear the Tigers built much of their defensive game plan around defending Reed. But when a fully healthy Weigman got the start instead, Missouri’s defense was caught off-guard. Mizzou never could adjust defensively and the Aggies cruised to a painful 45–17 win.
Barring an injury, when the Aggies travel to Columbia this fall Corey Batoon and the defense will be preparing for Reed, and only Reed. Expect Missouri to use a spy, potentially linebacker Triston Newson, and play disciplined zone coverage to limit breakdowns. Pressure must come from the interior, not the edge, to prevent escape lanes.
Mizzou’s success in 2025 may hinge on its ability to contain mobile quarterbacks like Reed. If they can keep him inside the pocket and force him into tight-window throws, they’ll give themselves a chance. But if Reed gets comfortable on the run, the Tigers could be chasing from behind… again.
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Raion Strader
School: Auburn (by way of Miami (OH))
Position: CB
Class: Junior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 183 lbs.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
What he’s done
Raion Strader spent his first two collegiate seasons at Miami (Ohio), where he quickly developed into one of the MAC’s top cover corners. As a sophomore in 2024, he posted 53 tackles, two interceptions, and an astounding 19 pass deflections, earning him MAC cornerback of the year honors. He had a similarly successful freshman year, earning freshman All-American honors.
As one of the top defensive transfers in the this past year’s portal cycle, Strader showed the ability to lock down receivers in both man and zone coverage while bringing physicality to run support. Auburn won a competitive recruiting battle for his services, hoping to plug him into a young secondary with immediate impact.
Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What he’ll do
Strader is expected to step in as a starting cornerback this fall in a revamped Auburn defense under coordinator D.J. Durkin. With the Tigers replacing multiple defensive backs from last season’s roster, Strader brings much-needed maturity and a reputation for physical play on the boundary.
Auburn will likely use Strader in press coverage, where he can jam receivers at the line and use his anticipation to disrupt timing routes. He’s also shown an ability to track the ball in the air, making him a threat in contested catch situations.
While the jump from the MAC to the SEC is significant, Strader’s production, competitiveness and football IQ give him a strong chance to emerge as a reliable defender in Auburn’s secondary. If he adjusts quickly to the speed of the conference, he could become one of the league’s better transfer additions and find himself an early NFL draft pick in 2026.
Mizzou Matchup
Kirby Moore and company will no doubt be paying close attention to Strader when the Tigers travel to the plains this fall. Strader will most likely play on one side of the field, so the best bet for the Tigers will be to avoid testing him by drawing up plays to the other side in the passing game while focusing on running Drinkwitz’s patented outside zone directly at him to wear him down early and often.
It’ll be important for whoever ends up playing quarterback for Mizzou to identify coverage rotations pre-snap, as Strader has a knack for reading the quarterback’s eyes and breaking on the ball. If the Tigers gets predictable, Strader could make them pay.
He may be new to the SEC, but Raion Strader brings Power Four instincts and a MAC chip on his shoulder, making him a name to watch for the blue and orange tigers all season.