Aaron Taylor Raises Major Concerns About Texas A&M OL, Marcel Reed

Texas A&M is bringing back just one starting offensive lineman from last year.

Center Mark Nabou, who’s on the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List and the Rimington Trophy as well, is that lone returner, but mass turnover in the offensive trenches is always a gamble.

Aaron Taylor certainly doesn’t sound bullish on the Aggies’ protection this season for that reason.

We spoke with the co-founder of the Joe Moore Award in promotion of the award’s partnership with Johnsonville Sausage.

When it comes to the trenches in College Station, Taylor worries about Texas A&M’s lasting power by the time the CFP rolls around.

In particular, Taylor worries about the protection, or lack thereof, because of communication breakdowns, which could force Marcel Reed into some tough situations.

“(Offensive linemen) are playing against guys that are equally as strong as us, but oftentimes more athletic. So our technique has to be refined, and we also are the only position where, every single play, our play is dependent on somebody else in playing adjacent and in combination with them,” Taylor said. “If you have new bodies that suddenly show up, some that come from new systems, some that are first-time starters, it makes the learning curve a little bit more difficult, and with the slate Texas A&M has this season, they’re not going to have much time to get that figured out. Especially with a quarterback who’s proven that he’ll put the ball in jeopardy if he’s not given the time and things don’t go the way that they need to.”

Texas A&M May Start Four Transfers

Inexperience isn’t uncommon in college football at any position. Sometimes, youth needs to step into big roles. The problem with Texas A&M’s line is that it’s basically rebuilt on the fly with transfers.

Former five-star Lamont Rogers is an elite talent, but he is still developing, and its unclear as of yet if Texas A&M can trust him on the blindside against elite SEC edge-rushers. He will compete with incoming transfer Tyree Adams for the starting role, with Adams currently ahead in the race.

Coen Echols figures to be an asset on the left side at guard, but he is competing with Blake Ivy, who has been making a push as of late.

On the right side, tackle Wilkin Formby and guard Trovon Baugh are standing out this offseason. All in all, there’s plenty of talent on the Aggies’ two-deep. Pedigree in the trenches isn’t the issue for the 12th Man this fall.

It’s just a question if they could come together quickly enough to contend with a nine-game SEC slate. Taylor called 2026 being the first year of a nine-game SEC slate “the first misstep” for Greg Sankey as commissioner after three straight Big Ten national championships.

First-year play-caller Holmon Wiggins and run-game coordinator/offensive line coach Adam Cushing have a quickly rebuilt offensive line and a tougher conference schedule than Texas A&M has seen under Mike Elko.

On paper, that is the kind of combination that historically has analysts, just like Aaron Taylor, bearish.

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