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COLLEGE STATION — For the first time since Mike Elko was hired about 27 months ago, Texas A&M football allowed observers to take in an entire practice Thursday.
The Aggies completed their fifth spring practice with a noticeable uptick in intensity, which was later confirmed by defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill,
"Today was the best energy I felt," he said after the first full spring practice viewed by reporters during this session.
While coaches don't confirm any personnel groupings, position changes or speculate on injuries that may have occurred, per the program's guidelines, there was still a lot to learn about A&M from the over two-hour-long practice session.
MORE: Texas A&M football pro day: Albert Regis, Tyler Onyedim and Chase Bisontis stand out
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed throws a pass during evening practice at the Coolidge Practice Fields on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Here are our notes and observations from Thursday's Texas A&M football spring practice:
This season seems to be a significant one for quarterback Marcel Reed, who's started 21 games over the past two seasons. Early spring results appear to be heading in the right direction.
The redshirt junior was sharp in Thursday's practice, fitting throws into tight windows during team period and seven-on-seven drills. In the one-on-one drills between wide receivers and cornerbacks, Reed was nearly flawless on his passes, with the only ball hitting the ground due to a defensive passing interference call.
The highlight of the day came when Reed connected on a perfectly thrown corner route to newcomer Isaiah Horton for a chunk play. The A&M QB worked his drop, ripped a confident throw to the left sideline and placed the ball perfectly over the defender's shoulder.
A tighter, more efficient motion has seemed to develop since last season. The processing through his reads looks strong and he's communicating clearly in the huddle.
New offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins will be calling plays for the first time, so it's encouraging that the QB looks comfortable on the field early this spring.
A transfer portal addition last season, Julio Humphrey didn't have the impact some expected from him in 2025. Will Lee III and Dezz Ricks returned for the 2025 season and Humphrey ranked only 20th on defense in snap count (124 plays).
His second season in Aggieland seems to be heading in a different direction; Hemphill said he has noticed a change in his cornerback ever since a one-on-one chat they had in January.
Hemphill added that Humphrey seems to be playing every rep as if it were his last, and Thursday that feeling felt fair. The former Georgia starter had several pass breakups, was strong against the run and made multiple "stops" on the edge during the thud period.
With Ricks limited this spring, Humphrey seems to be making the most of his increased opportunities. Rickey Gibson III from Tennessee transferred in this offseason, and he is expected to compete for a starting spot. However, Humphrey's progress looks promising.
MORE: The Air Raid offense at Texas A&M? Changes are coming, player says
Texas A&M cornerback Julian Humphrey runs drills during evening practice at the Coolidge Practice Fields on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
True freshman Aaron Gregory has to compete with the likes of Horton and Mario Craver for playing time. But the 6-foot-2 wide receiver had one of the best performances of anyone Thursday.
The Augusta, Ga., native was smooth in and out of his breaks, showed strong hands and exhibited confidence during both team and seven-on-seven periods while running routes over the middle.
Whether it was Reed or any of the backup quarterbacks he was working with, Gregory found himself a reliable option for passers throughout the day.
Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at [email protected].
Continue reading...
The Aggies completed their fifth spring practice with a noticeable uptick in intensity, which was later confirmed by defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill,
"Today was the best energy I felt," he said after the first full spring practice viewed by reporters during this session.
While coaches don't confirm any personnel groupings, position changes or speculate on injuries that may have occurred, per the program's guidelines, there was still a lot to learn about A&M from the over two-hour-long practice session.
MORE: Texas A&M football pro day: Albert Regis, Tyler Onyedim and Chase Bisontis stand out
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Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed throws a pass during evening practice at the Coolidge Practice Fields on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Here are our notes and observations from Thursday's Texas A&M football spring practice:
Takeaways from Texas A&M football's spring practice
Marcel Reed looked sharp
This season seems to be a significant one for quarterback Marcel Reed, who's started 21 games over the past two seasons. Early spring results appear to be heading in the right direction.
The redshirt junior was sharp in Thursday's practice, fitting throws into tight windows during team period and seven-on-seven drills. In the one-on-one drills between wide receivers and cornerbacks, Reed was nearly flawless on his passes, with the only ball hitting the ground due to a defensive passing interference call.
The highlight of the day came when Reed connected on a perfectly thrown corner route to newcomer Isaiah Horton for a chunk play. The A&M QB worked his drop, ripped a confident throw to the left sideline and placed the ball perfectly over the defender's shoulder.
A tighter, more efficient motion has seemed to develop since last season. The processing through his reads looks strong and he's communicating clearly in the huddle.
New offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins will be calling plays for the first time, so it's encouraging that the QB looks comfortable on the field early this spring.
Julio Humphrey's stock on the rise
A transfer portal addition last season, Julio Humphrey didn't have the impact some expected from him in 2025. Will Lee III and Dezz Ricks returned for the 2025 season and Humphrey ranked only 20th on defense in snap count (124 plays).
His second season in Aggieland seems to be heading in a different direction; Hemphill said he has noticed a change in his cornerback ever since a one-on-one chat they had in January.
Hemphill added that Humphrey seems to be playing every rep as if it were his last, and Thursday that feeling felt fair. The former Georgia starter had several pass breakups, was strong against the run and made multiple "stops" on the edge during the thud period.
With Ricks limited this spring, Humphrey seems to be making the most of his increased opportunities. Rickey Gibson III from Tennessee transferred in this offseason, and he is expected to compete for a starting spot. However, Humphrey's progress looks promising.
MORE: The Air Raid offense at Texas A&M? Changes are coming, player says
You must be registered for see images attach
Texas A&M cornerback Julian Humphrey runs drills during evening practice at the Coolidge Practice Fields on Thursday, July 31, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Freshman WR turning heads
True freshman Aaron Gregory has to compete with the likes of Horton and Mario Craver for playing time. But the 6-foot-2 wide receiver had one of the best performances of anyone Thursday.
The Augusta, Ga., native was smooth in and out of his breaks, showed strong hands and exhibited confidence during both team and seven-on-seven periods while running routes over the middle.
Whether it was Reed or any of the backup quarterbacks he was working with, Gregory found himself a reliable option for passers throughout the day.
Other notes and tidbits
- WR Ashton Bethel-Roman left practice early with an injury after getting tangled up from behind on a deep route during 1-on-1s and hitting the ground hard. No update on his status, but he didn’t return. He was the only known injury during the day.
- LB Daymion Sanford, a typically reserved guy, had a good day and seems to have become more vocal as a leader.
- Former Fresno State TE Richie Anderson looks good. He has a stout body that seems to hold up well in the run game and has also flashed nicely in the passing game.
- Redshirt freshman RB Tiger Riden appears bigger and stronger this season. He's still listed at 212 pounds, the same as last year, but he is noticeably more muscular in both his lower and upper body.
Reach Texas A&M beat reporter Tony Catalina via email at [email protected].
Continue reading...
