'It was a respect thing': Texas A&M QB on decommitment from Ole Miss
Article excerpt
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed recently spoke on why he decommitted from Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin, before committing to the Aggies.
While Marcel Reed is infamously known for donning a Texas A&M uniform, the junior gunslinger almost ended up at an SEC foe before heightened drama between a certain head coach and a job opening in the conference changed everything.
In a sit-down interview with D1 Training, Reed discussed why he decommitted from Ole Miss and decided to go with Texas A&M. The atmosphere at Kyle Field and the opportunity to build something special under head coach Mike Elko were massive selling points to the Aggie signal-caller, but Lane Kiffin's status with the Rebels also caused a major shakeup in the recruiting process.
Reed's switch to Texas A&M came after speculation of Kiffin's departure to become the new head coach at Auburn began to spread, along with Kiffin not attending the Aggie quarterback's home visit.
Marcel Reed opens up about the biggest decision of his football career: "It was a respect thing." 👀
On @theturf_D1, the Texas A&M QB shares why he decommitted from @Lane_Kiffin + Ole Miss and the moment that changed everything.
📺 FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/2UrPLaQIoOpic.twitter.com/rhKkjHFpq4
, D1 Training (@D1Sports) June 24, 2026
As one can imagine, this only ruffled the feathers of the Aggies' already intense rivalry against the LSU Tigers, which is the current residence of Kiffin. The only person to coach three SEC teams in their career arrived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, making one of the most controversial moves in college football history and sparking nationwide hatred for how he handled the entire process of transitioning between the two schools.
Since the move, multiple players, including his own stars born in Oxford, have spoken out against how Kiffin has handled situations as a head coach. Reed's comments in his interview with D1 Training only added fuel to the fire, as another affirmation of how the now-LSU head coach has acted during the hiring process. While it wasn't the only factor that contributed to Reed committing to Texas A&M, it was still an aspect that led to his eventual decommitment from the Rebels in 2022.
The Aggies will have an opportunity to see the Kiffin-led Tigers in Death Valley on September 26, one year removed from capturing a 49-25 win over LSU at Tiger Stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M QB says decommitment from Lane Kiffin was a 'respect thing'