Two Aggies speak after Texas A&M’s 44-20 loss to South Carolina

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) is no longer the last undefeated team in SEC play after Week 10, as the Aggies were blown out in every facet of the semester on the road against South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC ) 44-20 after giving up 286 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

When redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed entered the game, he earned his fourth start of the year after his performance against LSU the week before. However, he struggled in the pocket and his accuracy in the field remained an issue. South Carolina’s defense all but shut down the quarterback’s running game, save for a few successful scrambles.

What hindered the offensive play was the loss of running back Le’Veon Moss early in the first half, when the junior left the field with an apparent knee injury but returned to the sideline in street clothes, which could be a positive sign. Defensively, the Aggies were terrible against the run, mainly due to poor tackling and poor eye discipline against the quarterback option, allowing LaNorris Sellers to rush for over 100 yards.

Texas A&M now heads into the bye week with a lot of questions, but despite the loss, everything is still in front of them, tied atop the SEC at 5-1 with Georgia.

After the game head coach Mike Elkoquarterback Marcel Reed and linebacker Taurean York spoke to the media. Here’s what both players had to say.

Taurean York on the lack of execution in defense

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“I feel like we stopped watching LSU after Tuesday and Wednesday. We just didn’t execute it.”

York on the Aggies’ handling of the problems

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“Continue to expand the course of the season. It felt like one man was hitting us. We weren’t tackling with our technique. It starts with me.”

York to mentally move on to the bye week

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“Losing always sucks… It’s a long trip back to College Station. That match ended 30 minutes ago. We are ready for the bye week.”

York on South Carolina RB Raheim Sanders’ big day

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“Good player. A rising star in this league. That’s their guy here in South Carolina. He excelled.”

York on HC Mike Elko’s message to the team

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“We still have a lot of ball left.”

QB Marcel Reed moved on when he found out he was the starter

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“He told me on Thursday afternoon after training.”

“I don’t know what happens next.”

Reed on his lack of success against the Gamecock defense

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“I don’t think I had any chances to get the ball. (South Carolina) game scheduled.”

Drove the Aggies’ 68 penalties

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“We have to be smarter. The coach keeps telling us that penalties can cost you the game.”

Marcel Reed on what it was like to play at Williams-Brice Stadium

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“It’s a different field. I like to play on the road.”