Tag: Aggies

Oct 19, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) warms up before the game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Former NC State WR KC Concepcion transferring to Texas A&M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former North Carolina State wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion is transferring to Texas A&M.

He confirmed the transfer on his Instagram account Sunday.

Concepcion, who has two years of eligibility remaining, caught 124 passes for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns, and rushed for two more, in 25 games over two seasons for the Wolfpack. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, when he set program records for a freshman with 71 receptions and 10 TDs.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, Concepcion is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 15 player overall and No. 6 receiver in the transfer portal.

Texas A&M already has added receivers Micah Hudson, a transfer from Texas Tech, and Mario Craver (Mississippi State). The Aggies have 10 transfer commitments.

Concepcion also considered Alabama, Colorado, Florida State, Miami and South Carolina.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; UAB Blazers quarterback Jacob Zeno (4) throws the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs in the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Texas A&M lands UAB transfer QB Jacob Zeno

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Texas A&M added another quarterback to its 2025 roster with the addition of Jacob Zeno, who announced on Tuesday that he will transfer to the Aggies from UAB.

A four-star recruit out of San Antonio in 2019, the 6-foot-4 Zeno spent his first three years at Baylor before transferring to UAB, where he threw for 3,126 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2023 while rushing for another four scores.

However, he appeared in only four games this season, passing for 819 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions before suffering a season-ending injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

Zeno took a visit to Texas A&M on Monday, according to On3.com.

Redshirt freshman Marcel Reed has taken over the starting job and is currently projected to retain it next season with Conner Weigman and Jaylen Henderson entering the transfer portal.

The Aggies will play Southern California in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 27.

–Field Level Media

Texas A&M Aggies running back Rueben Owens (2) reaches across the goal line for a touchdown as Auburn Tigers take on Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Auburn Tigers lead Texas A&M Aggies 21-7 at halftime.

Auburn topples No. 15 Texas A&M in 4OT thriller

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Auburn’s Payton Thorne tossed a two-point scoring pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fourth overtime to give the host Tigers a 43-41 upset of No. 15 Texas A&M on Saturday night in Southeastern Conference play.

The Aggies had a chance to force another extra session, but Amari Daniels dropped Marcel Reed’s pass in the end zone.

The setback severely hurts the chances of Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) being part of the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

Auburn blew a 21-point lead and later forced overtime on Ian Vachon’s 29-yard field goal with five seconds left in regulation.

Thorne was 19-of-31 passing for 301 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Tigers (5-6, 2-5). Jarquez Hunter rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 28 rushes, Cam Coleman had seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and Lambert-Smith had 104 receiving yards on two catches for Auburn.

Reed completed 22 of 35 passes for 297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Aggies. Noah Thomas caught five passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, Jahdae Walker had a receiving score and Terry Bussey added a rushing touchdown for Texas A&M.

The Aggies never led until Daniels scored on an 8-yard run up the middle with 4:01 remaining in regulation. Daniels rushed for 90 yards on 27 carries.

Texas A&M had first possession in overtime and scored when Reed tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Walker. Auburn answered with Hunter’s 2-yard scoring run.

The Tigers settled for a 41-yard field goal by Vachon in their second possession. Randy Bond kicked a 42-yard field goal for the Aggies to tie it at 41.

In the third overtime, when teams solely go for two points, both squads threw incomplete passes.

In the fourth overtime, Lambert-Smith made a superb catch to put Auburn ahead, before Daniel couldn’t keep control for Texas A&M.

Auburn was sharp offensively while scoring three touchdowns over the first 17 minutes.

Hunter scored on a 2-yard run and Thorne threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Coleman in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Thorne connected with Coleman on a 15-yard scoring pass for the 21-0 lead.

Bussey scored from the 1 to get the Aggies on the board with 4:13 to go in the first half.

Reed hit Thomas on a 14-yard scoring pass to bring the Aggies within 21-14 with 9:25 left in the third quarter. When Texas A&M next had the ball, Reed hit Thomas at the Aggies’ 40-yard line and he raced the rest of the way to conclude a tying 73-yard scoring play with 7:57 remaining in the period.

Auburn took a 28-21 lead on Hunter’s 1-yard scoring run with 2:27 in the third quarter.

Bond’s 32-yard field goal moved the Aggies within four with 12:47 remaining in the game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Le'Veon Moss (8) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the LSU Tigers in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.

Texas A&M loses leading rusher Le’Veon Moss for season

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Junior Amari Daniels is the next man up for Texas A&M with leading rusher Le’Veon Moss ruled out for the remainder of the season with a leg injury.

Aggies coach Mike Elko confirmed Moss will not play again this season after leading the team with 765 yards and 10 touchdowns on 121 carries this season. He left Saturday’s 44-20 loss to South Carolina early in the first half with a knee injury.

Moss emerged as the featured back after Rueben Owens was injured in August. Elko said at the time Owens was “most likely” done for the year, but also added there is a chance he could be available “if the season extends beyond the regular season.”

With three games remaining, including the Nov. 30 showdown with No. 5 Texas, the Aggies are down to only two scholarship running backs with game experience. That doesn’t include freshman wide receiver Terry Bussey, who has lined up in the backfield and carried the ball nine times for 84 yards and a touchdown in 2024.

“We’re confident in Amari and his ability to go back there,” Elko said Monday.

Daniels provided a spark with the longest run of his career last week at South Carolina, a 56-yard burst as part of a 13-carry, 83-yard outing against the Gamecocks. He had a career-high 91 yards on 12 carries in Texas A&M’s win over LSU last month.

No. 15 Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1) is off until a nonconference game against New Mexico State on Nov. 16.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman (15) walks the field before a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Report: Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman available but a game-time call

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Quarterback Conner Weigman’s shoulder injury has improved enough that he could play Saturday when his No. 25 Texas A&M hosts No. 9 Missouri in College Station, Texas, according to ESPN.

Whether Weigman or Marcel Reed starts will be a game-time decision by coach Mike Elko, per the report.

Weigman initially injured the AC joint in his throwing shoulder in a 23-13 loss to Notre Dame on Aug. 31, then aggravated the injury the following week in a 52-10 rout of McNeese.

Reed has started the past three games in Weigman’s absence. He has a 54.4 percent completion rate in four appearances (three starts), completing 43-of-79 passes for 585 yards and six touchdowns and running for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

Although Weigman was not cleared to play last weekend against Arkansas, his participation in practice steadily increased this week. Weigman left training camp as the No. 1 quarterback.

Texas A&M (4-1) is 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play, having defeated Florida and Arkansas. Missouri (4-0) beat Vanderbilt 30-27 in double overtime last week in its SEC opener.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) catches a touchdown pass during overtime against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

No. 9 Missouri-No. 25 Texas A&M features strong running games

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No. 9 Missouri will face its most difficult test to date this season when the Tigers travel to College Station, Texas, to face No. 25 Texas A&M on Saturday.

The Tigers (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) played their first four games at home. Now they must take on the Aggies (4-1, 2-0) in front of a raucous crowd at Kyle Field.

“It’s going to be hot,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “It’s supposed to be 92 degrees on Saturday, which would be the hottest game we’ve played in all year. Then, you’re going to have to combine that with 105,000 people who joined forces and trying to create distractions for your team. So you’re going to have to be able to block out the noise.”

Another issue for Missouri is preparing for two quarterbacks. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko says Conner Weigman could return to the starting role.

“Not trying to play games with that,” Elko said. “It’s just one of those things with the shoulder (injury). So he’ll be a game-time decision again this week, and we’ll see where it goes.”

But Drinkwitz expects dual-threat quarterback Marcel Reed to get the start. Reed has completed 43 of 79 passes for 585 yards and six touchdowns and has run for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

“I know on their depth chart, it says the other kid is the starting quarterback, but, I mean, that’s just semantics in my opinion,” Drinkwitz said. “They clearly have a different identity with this guy as the quarterback, and they’ve developed an offense that fits around this system. It’s a lot different than the first game of the year.

“If they go with the other one, they go with the other one, but they’ve kind of already built the offense towards this, towards Marcel . . . we’ll anticipate Marcel being the starting quarterback. Marcel Reed is a little bit more mobile.”

The Aggies have averaged 5.5 yards per carry this season, with running backs Le’Veon Moss (471 yards, three touchdowns, 6.2 yards per carry) and Amari Daniels (211 yards, two TDs, 4.4 average) joining Reed in lead roles.

Moss has emerged as a more consistent performer.

“I think he would tell you he feels much better from a physical stature, strength, stamina standpoint than he ever has,” Elko said. “I think that’s allowed him to go out there and practice a lot more consistently. That’s tightening down his lines, his angles, his entry points into the run game.”

Missouri also has relied heavily on its running game during its 4-0 start. Nate Noel leads the way with 441 yards and a 6.4-yard average, and 10 different ball carriers have combined for a 5.2 average.

The Tigers have yet to get their passing game in high gear. Brady Cook is 92 for 134 for 946 yards and four touchdowns.

Top target Luther Burden III has caught 19 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns. Theo Wease Jr. has 26 catches for 287 yards.

“They got an outstanding wide receiver core,” Elko said. “Obviously, Luther Burden is the headliner. He was over 1,200 yards last year. He’s about to go on pace to do the same thing again this year. An electric kid, they play him in the slot primarily.

“Then they got a ton of experience on the offensive line. They’ve got three guys who are in their third year as starters, so it’s a really good group.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Dezz Ricks (10) intercepts a pass intended for Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (5) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

No. 24 Texas A&M comes back vs. Arkansas to win final Southwest Classic in Arlington

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Marcel Reed accounted for three scores Saturday and remained perfect as starting quarterback for the No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies, who improved to 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play by topping the Arkansas Razorbacks 21-17 in the final Southwest Classic held in Arlington, Texas.

With top quarterback Conner Weigman (shoulder sprain) unavailable for a third straight game, the Aggies (4-1 overall) continued with backup Reed, who went 11-for-22 for 163 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another score. He moved to 3-0 as a starter.

Le’Veon Moss carried 13 times for 102 yards, and Noah Thomas caught six passes for 109 yards and a score as the Aggies improved to 12-1 in the past 13 series meetings.

Taylen Green was 23 of 41 for 279 yards, with a touchdown and an interception for Arkansas (3-2, 1-1). The SEC’s leading rusher at 118 yards per game, Ja’Quinden Jackson had just 37 yards on 10 carries and scored. Isaac TeSlaa had five catches for 120 yards and a TD.

The matchup between the two teams, who first played in 1903, was the final one in the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The series will continue on the Arkansas campus next year.

On the game’s third play from scrimmage, Green scrambled away from defenders and hit TeSlaa for a 75-yard score, but the Aggies evened it up when Reed found Thomas for a 58-yard catch-and-run score on their second series.

The first-quarter fireworks continued after Arkansas punter Devin Bale took off for 25 yards on a fake punt, keeping the drive alive for Jackson’s ninth TD and a 14-7 lead.

In the second quarter, Aggies defensive end Shemar Stewart disrupted a play in the backfield, forcing a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Scooby Williams at the Arkansas 10. Reed tied it two plays later on a five-yard keeper.

Kicker Kyle Ramsey, who had made just five of his nine field goal attempts coming into the game, gave the Razorbacks their third lead by drilling a 45-yarder to end a 10-play, 58-yard drive at 13:24 of the fourth.

However, the Aggies went 75 yards on the following series with Reed flipping a short pass to Trey Watson to make it 21-17 — their only lead — with nine minutes remaining.

Texas A&M sealed the game on Nic Scourton’s sack of Green and Jaydon Hill’s fumble recovery with 90 seconds left.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Logan, Utah, USA; Utah State Aggies quarterback Spencer Petras (7) warms up before a game against the Utah Utes at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Isaac Wilson steps in as starter, leads No. 12 Utah over Utah State

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Isaac Wilson threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start to lead No. 12 Utah to a 38-21 victory over Utah State on Saturday in Logan, Utah.

Wilson, who was picked off once, filled in for Cameron Rising, who sat out after suffering an injury to his right (throwing) hand against Baylor last week. Wilson had his first career 200-yard game and helped Utah (3-0) beat Utah State for the 12th time in 13 games in the teams’ rivalry series.

Micah Bernard rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries for the Utes.

Utah State’s Bryson Barnes threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns in his first game against his former team. Barnes also had a pair of interceptions. The Aggies (1-2) got 115 rushing yards on 19 touches from Rahsul Faison.

Barnes connected on a pair of big passes to give Utah State its first lead of the game late in the first quarter. He hit Otto Tia for a 39-yard completion along the sideline to get into the red zone. Then, Barnes found a wide-open Broc Lane over the middle for a 20-yard TD to put Utah State up 7-3 with 46 seconds to go in the frame.

The Aggies extended their lead to 14-3 less than a minute into the second quarter on a 12-yard scoring pass from Barnes to Jack Hestera. Jalen Royals reeled in a 35-yard pass with one hand on the previous play to set up the touchdown.

Utah’s offense sprang to life during the second quarter. Wilson hit Money Parks for an 11-yard strike for the Utes’ first touchdown. Then, Utah took a 17-14 lead just before halftime when Caleb Lohner climbed the ladder for an 11-yard TD catch of his own.

The Utes started pulling away in the third quarter.

They extended their lead to 28-14 when Bernard barreled into the end zone from 3 yards out and Wilson completed a two-point conversion pass with 4:04 to go in the frame. Utah State cut its deficit to seven, 28-21, on a 1-yard keeper by Barnes, but Bernard raced 64 yards to set up a 2-yard scoring catch by Carsen Ryan that made it 35-21 with 11:50 left in the game.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) throws the ball under pressure from Florida Gators defensive back Jason Marshall Jr. (3) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Marcel Reed stars as Texas A&M sinks Florida, ends road skid

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Marcel Reed engineered and scored on a 99-yard drive and threw two touchdowns in his first career start Saturday, leading Texas A&M to a thorough 33-20 Southeastern Conference win over Florida in Gainesville, Fla.

With Conner Weigman (shoulder sprain) unavailable, Reed was impressive in going 11-for-17 passing for 178 yards for the Aggies (2-1, 1-0 SEC), who snapped a 10-game road losing streak. He also rushed 13 times for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Le’Veon Moss had 110 yards on 18 carries as Texas A&M ground out 310 yards on 55 attempts in new coach Mike Elko’s first SEC victory.

Quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway alternated series for the Gators (1-2, 0-1), who lost their seventh straight game against an FBS school.

Mertz started and went 12 of 15 for 195 yards with a TD and an interception, while Lagway completed 6 of 13 for 54 yards, a TD and two interceptions.

Elijhah Badger (five catches, 94 yards) and Chimere Dike (six for 91) caught TD passes, but Florida played without leading receiver Eugene Wilson III due to a reported lower-body injury.

Reed, a true freshman, guided his squad on a 14-play, 62-yard drive on the first series that ended with Randy Bond’s 31-yard field goal.

The Nashville native added a 29-yard scoring strike to Theo Melin Ohrstrom on the next possession, but the game was soon interrupted by a 47-minute lightning delay.

Playing in all-white uniforms and white helmets for the first time since 2017, the Aggies made it 13-0 on Bond’s kick from 49 yards with 9:47 left in the first half.

Starting at their own 1, the Aggies used 15 plays and 7:15 to move 99 yards, with Reed plunging in on a sneak for a 20-0 halftime lead.

The visitors held a 302-73 total yardage advantage in the first half, including 197-7 on the ground.

Mertz led Florida on a 75-yard drive to open the second half, hitting Badger from 14 yards, but Reed found Cyrus Allen for 73 yards to make it 26-7.

The Aggies’ Bryce Anderson grabbed Mertz’s deflected pass and raced 45 yards to paydirt with 5:29 left in the third.

Lagway capped his fourth series with a 7-yard scoring toss to Dike, and Ja’Kobi Jackson rushed for a 2-yard TD to finish the scoring.

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) throws a pass during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 against the Samford Bulldogs. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

Florida facing a QB conundrum against Texas A&M

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Texas A&M and Florida will meet for just the seventh time in the schools’ history Saturday afternoon when they open Southeastern Conference play in Gainesville, Fla.

A few similarities exist between the teams, who last played when Florida went to College Station in 2022 and claimed a 41-24 victory by outscoring the Aggies 21-0 in the second half.

Both squads sit at 1-1 after dropping their openers against ranked teams. However, both rebounded Saturday with resounding wins over weaker FCS competition. The Aggies routed McNeese 52-10, and the Gators did the same vs. Samford, 45-7.

They went about their blowout wins in different ways, though. While Texas A&M grinded out 333 rushing yards on just 38 carries, Florida true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway threw for 456 yards and three touchdowns.

With starter Graham Mertz (concussion) knocked out of the Gators’ 41-17 loss to Miami in Week 1, Lagway excelled in his first college start, leading to an obvious question for coach Billy Napier: Who gets the nod against the Aggies?

“That’s where the gamesmanship is,” said Napier on Monday, unwilling to tip his hand. “I don’t want to put the playbook on the streets here. Ultimately, (DJ’s) one of our better players. We’re going to give him an opportunity to impact the game and contribute to the team. That’s our intention.”

Lagway, a product of Willis, Texas, shattered Chris Leak’s 2003 record for single-game passing yards by a freshman. Lagway completed 18 of 25 passes and averaged 18.2 yards per attempt.

“Both these players can make our team better,” Napier said.

Texas A&M first-year coach Mike Elko was the defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018-21 before taking the Duke head coaching job in 2022 and coaching there for two seasons.

“You kind of come up with a plan on how you think you want to handle both kids,” Elko said of the Mertz/Lagway conundrum. “You have to prepare like both of them are going to play the whole game. … But I also think you can’t come up with two different game plans because I think the kids will get paralyzed by volume.”

In a series that started in 1962 and includes the 1977 Sun Bowl, the teams have split their six meetings.

–Field Level Media