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Mike Elko wishes more people would 'appreciate' QB Marcel Reed

· Yahoo Sports

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko's third season at the helm began with a 50-0 shutout win over Missouri State to open the 2026 campaign, and while the offensive line struggled in the first half, redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed's play kept the Aggies in position to score on nearly every possession, as his improved accuracy and touch produced several NFL-level throws that led to finishing an efficient 20/31 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns.

This offseason, Reed worked with private QB coach Jeff Christensen extensively to fix his remaining mechanical issues, and after a second viewing of Saturday's game, Reed's touch on his deep ball attempts dropped perfectly at the catch point, while his anticipation and decision-making in the pocket, specifically opting to check down in the flat instead of forcing a 50/50 pass.

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These small steps are mandatory if Texas A&M has any shot at making it back to the College Football Playoff, and while new OC Holmon Wiggins opted to run the ball more in the second half, Saturday's critical home matchup vs. Arizona State before entering SEC play should result in more RPO looks and A&M's deep wide receiver rotation making plays after the catch.

During Monday's weekly press conference before hosting the Sun Devils, Mike Elko graded his quarterback's performance, saying that, aside from a couple of errant throws, Marcel Reed plays some of his best football and is expected to keep making strides this season.

"There were two drops, a couple of throwaways that I thought were throwaways and a couple of balls I'm sure he wished he'd thrown it better."

"I thought there was a lot of progress in him going through progressions and reads… Completing a high percentage of his passes was good."

This offseason, it became abundantly clear that Marcel Reed will have to win the Heisman Trophy for the national media to respect his skill set after last season's struggles against Texas and Miami in the CFP, but for those of us who have followed the veteran signal caller's journey going back to his high school playing days, outside noise does not matter.

Mike Elko is proud of his QB and urged those who continue to criticize Reed based on two bad games last season to study all the tape and realize that the Tennessee native is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC.

"I'm very supportive of Marcel (Reed) because I wish more time would spend more time studying him and watching him and seeing how good he really is."

"I wish people would start to appreciate who he is, what he does and how successful he has been for us as a starter. He's now 12-1 for us as a starter."

Texas A&M will host Arizona State on Saturday for an early 11 a.m. kickoff, which will air on ABC.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Mike Elko wishes more people would 'appreciate' QB Marcel Reed

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UK announces sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements

· Al Jazeera

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Grosso: From Maldini’s Italy shortlist to Fiorentina sacking in just three months

· Yahoo Sports

Grosso: From Maldini’s Italy shortlist to Fiorentina sacking in just three months

Fabio Grosso’s dismissal by Fiorentina raises further questions over Paolo Maldini’s shortlist for the Italy head coach position, with the former Viola boss previously considered alongside Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi.

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Fiorentina parted ways with Grosso after he oversaw three consecutive Serie A defeats, bringing Paolo Vanoli back just three months after his departure.

Grosso was among Maldini’s options for the Italy role

FLORENCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 5: Head coach Fabio Grosso manager of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Torino FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on September 5, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Grosso completed his first full Serie A season as a coach in 2025-26, leading Sassuolo to a comfortable survival and convincing Fabio Paratici to give him a chance at the Stadio Franchi.

Regarded as one of the most exciting young coaches in Serie A, Grosso had also caught the attention of ex-Italy technical director Maldini, who retained his role for just two weeks in July.

Maldini first held talks with Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, then picked Andrea Pirlo for the Italy job, but a political scandal over his role as a brand ambassador for a Russian betting company blocked his appointment.

“We wanted a young coach who had a history in the national team. There were three names [besides Pirlo], Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Grosso,” Maldini said last month.

BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: AC Milan Sporting Strategy & Development Director Paolo Maldini and AC Milan Club Sporting Director Leonardo De Araujo before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AC Milan at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on February 16, 2019 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Maldini and Leonardo did not approach De Rossi or Grosso because they were already under contract with Serie A clubs, which had agreed with FIGC President Giovanni Malagò that the Italian FA would not contact any of their coaches.

Maldini’s appointment was initially welcomed with excitement by much of the Italian media and fans, but criticism quickly emerged once it became clear that Maldini’s first choice after Guardiola and Ancelotti was Pirlo.

After the deal with Pirlo collapsed, Malagò took the matter into his own hands and hired Roberto Mancini instead, with Claudio Ranieri joining as Italy’s technical director.

ROME, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Daniele De Rossi, Head Coach of Genoa, looks on before the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on August 30, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Maldini and his advisor Leonardo ultimately resigned because they believed the political scandal involving Pirlo was merely an excuse to restrict their decision-making powers and obstruct the hiring of their preferred candidate.

Maldini and Leonardo had a long-term project in mind, but when Ancelotti and Guardiola rejected their offer, they opted for young coaches with considerable experience with the Italy national team as footballers, rather than other top coaches available, such as Mancini or Antonio Conte.

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