Texas A&M (3-2, 1-2 SEC) took care of business against Arkansas, while third-year coach Mike Elko and OC Holmon Wiggins deserve credit for changing the game plan and focusing on the run game, which was the only area of improvement seen during the Aggies' 35-6 road loss to LSU in Week 4.
After taking an early 14-0 lead, thanks to freshman running backs KJ Edwards and Carsyn Baker finding the end zone, former Texas A&M wide receiver Chris Marshall, who led the game with 76 receiving yards, scored the Razorbacks' lone touchdown in the first quarter. That was it for the visitors, who didn't find the end zone again.
The plan to keep Marcel Reed clean worked, and the redshirt junior also deserves credit for smart decisions as a runner, matching KJ Edwards
with 66 rush yards and a touchdown while completing 13/19 for 170 yards. Was accuracy still an issue? Yes, but his decision-making in the pocket was much better.
On defense, sophomore Edge Marco Jones recorded the team's lone sack and four pressures, which is still problematic given the state of Arkansas' offensive line. Still, there's enough talent along the defensive line for Mike Elko and Lyle Hemphill to find creative ways to pressure the pocket.
The Aggies did what they had to do, and I can't mention transfer kicker David Olano, who hit a career-high 57-yard field goal, followed by his 50-yard FG.
Texas A&M will face No. 25 Missouri in Columbia next weekend after the Tigers defeated No. 8 Florida 45-17 on Saturday. Here are five key takeaways from Texas A&M's 34-7 win over Arkansas.
This was a must-win, and Texas A&M accomplished its goal
Run the ball! That they did. Texas A&M's offense looked much cleaner and more efficient, as OC Holmon Wiggins heard the message loud and clear that a healthy run game only helps QB Marcel Reed, who had been struggling in the pocket.
Racking up 231 rushing yards and four scores has created a blueprint for the rest of the season, as Marcel Reed ran for 66 yards and a score, while freshman running back KJ Edwards produced 66 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, looking quick and elusive on nearly every carry.
Texas A&M defense shut out the Razorbacks after the first quarter, holding QB KJ Edwards to 111 passing yards, while safety Dalton Brooks recorded his first interception of the year in the first quarter. Both units did their job and earned the much-needed victory in front of a record (for this season) crowd.
Texas A&M's secondary had a bounce-back performance, especially safety Dalton Brooks
After allowing LSU QB Sam Leavitt to throw for 312 yards and two touchdowns last Saturday, Texas A&M's secondary played much better on Saturday, limiting Arkansas QB KJ Jackson to 11 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and just 4.4 yards per completion.
Senior safety Dalton Brooks earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade on defense (76.1) and recorded his first interception of the season, allowing zero receptions in coverage. However, senior cornerback Julio Humphrey was the lone defensive back who struggled, allowing 50 yards and WR Chris Marshall's touchdown.
Five defensive backs earned 60 or above coverage grades (PFF), which isn't surprising given the talent level, but an encouraging showing from a group that allowed too many explosive passing plays during the two-game losing streak.
Freshman RB KJ Edwards is the real deal
The tape clearly showed coach Mike Elko and OC Holmon Wiggins that freshman running back KJ Edwards deserved more opportunities to showcase his ability, leading to his career night on the ground after he produced 66 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries.
Edwards' combination of speed, quickness, and vision makes him a candidate to start the rest of the way, while his future in College Station is set. Combined with fellow freshman Carsyn Baker, Mike Elko has not had this level of depth in the backfield since taking over as head coach.
With seven regular-season games remaining, running the ball should remain the focus, and KJ Edwards deserves more responsibility, especially against Missouri in Columbia next Saturday afternoon. Edwards might be the best freshman running back in the SEC, and with another game under his belt, Texas A&M's running game is in good hands.
QB Marcel Reed was better, but still has a ways to go
Marcel Reed made better decisions in the pocket, completing 13/19 for 170 yards and averaging 8.9 yards per completion, while his impact on the ground stood out: 66 yards and a score on 7.3 yards per rush attempt. However, Reed's accuracy issues continue, and he overthrew his receivers, but he deserves credit for alluding pressure and bailing when nothing was there.
Fans won't be satisfied with the redshirt junior after one above-average performance, especially with Missouri next on the schedule, knowing that the Tigers are coming off a 45-17 home win over No. 8 Florida. How much Reed will improve as a passer is unknown at this juncture, but the added focus on running the ball places less pressure on the signal caller to make plays with his arm.
A clean stat line and, most importantly, winning a conference game is all that matters, for now.
The Aggies have some momentum before facing Missouri on the road
Mike Elko was right when discussing the importance of momentum, which wasn't the case for Texas A&M during the Aggies' two-game losing streak. While defeating Arkansas 34-7 might not excite a fan base still reeling from losses to Kentucky and LSU, this was the only step forward.
Elko said it best after the win: feeling any sense of "relief" after a victory isn't the goal; ending a losing streak is simply the next step forward.
"The day I feel relief from winning is the day I quit… We have joy when we win. That's the word we use when we win football games."
Texas A&M's ability to establish the run and open up the passing game led to Marcel Reed's efficient performance in the pocket, while the Aggies' defense allowed just a handful of explosive plays and one touchdown in the first quarter before shutting out the Razorbacks.
Do the Aggies truly have momentum heading into Missouri? Approaching this week's practice with the same mentality we saw on Saturday night is the key to avoiding a drop-off, and learning from the film, which has plenty of positives, should put the roster in a great mindset before the road battle.
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: Everything we learned from Texas A&M's dominant 34-7 win over Arkansas
