Texas A&M’s national projections heading into the 2025 college football season continue to be based on a thinly veiled reality that centers around the 2024 regular-season finale loss to Texas, which was regarded as starting quarterback Marcel Reed’s worst game of his career.
Compared to those of us who cover the Aggies professionally, judging Texas A&M’s 2024 offense based on a handful of game results has resulted in overreactions that have taken shape this offseason. Last week, ESPN released a collaborative article detailing every preseason Top 25 program’s “Area of concern” with the 2025 campaign less than 50 days away, including Texas A&M (No. 23).
On paper, Texas A&M’s 2025 roster is stacked with talent and experience at every position. However, according to ESPN A&M writer Dave Wilson, wide receiver is still the primary area of concern even after adding KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, and Jonah Wilson from the transfer portal, as he focused on the departure of junior WR Noah Thomas, who transferred to Georgia this offseason.
“Just like last season, a big question for the Aggies’ potential is how their wide receiver room will shake out. The Aggies lost Noah Thomas, a bright spot in an otherwise spotty position for A&M and new offensive coordinator Collin Klein, to Georgia after Thomas caught 39 passes for 574 yards and eight touchdowns last year. No other player caught more than two TDs or eclipsed 400 yards on the season as the Aggies fought through a QB change from Conner Weigman to Marcel Reed. This year, the Aggies are looking toward NC State transfer KC Concepcion (71 catches, 839 yards, 10 TDs in 2023, 53-460-6 last year), Mississippi State transfer Mario Craver (17-368-3 as a freshman), as well as returners Ashton Bethel-Roman, 6-2, 220-pound freshman four-star recruit Jerome Myles and dynamic 2024 five-star recruit Terry Bussey, who played something of an all-purpose role last year. As this group goes, so will Reed and the offense.”
Yes, albeit missing a handful of games due to injury during his A&M career, Noah Thomas’s length and catch radius will be missed, and could affect the Aggies’ passing success in the red zone. Still, the Aggies were lacking playmakers with the ability to separate consistently, which hindered Marcel Reed’s progress in the pocket, especially after star running back Le’Veon Moss was lost for the season.
Agreeing with Wilson, Ashton Bethel-Roman, five-star freshman Jerome Myles, and sophomore Terry Bussey are indeed the options following Concepcion. Still, redshirt freshman Izaiah Williams is also a name to watch based on his performance this spring.
I’m not saying this revamped group will completely change the dynamic of Texas A&M’s offense, but the added speed and quickness will only help Marcel Reed as a passer and open up the playbook for OC Collin Klein, something we did not see in 2024.
If I had to list my “Area of concern” for Texas A&M this coming season, it would be at cornerback, where seniors Will Lee III and Tyreek Chappell will both be heavily depended on, while several returning options, including former five-star prospect Dezz Ricks and transfer addition Julian Humphrey need to improve based on their play last season.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ESPN lists surprising ‘Area of concern’ for Texas A&M ahead of the 2025 season
Reporting by Cameron Ohnysty, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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