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After the magical win over LSU, Texas A&M's Marcel Reed is the man

Marcel Reed was ready.

The redshirt freshman quarterback from Texas A&M started three games earlier this season in place of regular starter Conner Weigman, but none of those wins were bigger than the one he scored in a stunning second-half relief appearance on Saturday night at Kyle Field.

Reed could run for mayor of College Station and win in a landslide. He sent the No. 7 LSU Tigers fighting for a recount with a magically shocking score of 38-23 in front of a loud home crowd, the third largest in Kyle Field history.

The 5-0 start in the SEC is the first of its kind since the Aggies joined the league in 2012, and Reed played a crucial role in leading the offense to four touchdowns on its five second-half possessions. He should be the Aggies' starter.

Texas A&M's offense is better with Marcel Reed

Reed's upside is undeniable and the ability to make game-changing plays should propel him to the top of the A&M rankings. He lacks experience, but when he's in the lineup, the Aggies are a much more versatile offense.

Weigman, struggling with consistency, managed just 156 yards, one touchdown and one fumble on eight drives and received his seat papers from head coach Mike Elko with the Aggies trailing 17-7 with 8:17 left in the third quarter. He was 6 of 18 for 64 yards, a week after going 15 of 25 for 217 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a win over Mississippi State.

RELATED: Our 3 takeaways from Texas A&M's win over LSU

The Tigers had no answer for the silky-smooth Reed, who masterfully controlled Collin Klein's zone-driven attack. The A&M offensive coordinator brought Big 12 defenses to legendary coach Bill Snyder's Kansas State teams as a dual-threat All-American quarterback. Klein, a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2012, was more of a physical chain player, but Reed, who is much quicker, may have turned A&M's offense into something much more fearsome.

His first five drives resulted in 200 yards and 31 points, and it's likely that first-year coach Mike Elko has scouted his quarterback for not just the future, but the present as well.

Reed completed both pass attempts, but one went 54 yards to Noah Thomas, setting up a touchdown. He devastated the Tigers with nine carries for 62 yards and three rushing touchdowns as part of a 21-0 run that sent an important message to the rest of the SEC.

“He works hard,” Elko told ESPN after the game. “He never backed down. We needed him early and he was ready. When we returned to Conner, he remained ready. The way the game was going, we felt like we needed him tonight and he was still ready. He's a great boy. He is a great competitor. He won us the football game tonight.”

A big year for A&M just got bigger

The son of a coach, Reed has a maturity about him that has been noticed by teammates and coaches alike. His playmaking ability makes him even more popular in the huddle. Who knows if Elko will return to Weigman in the next game against South Carolina, but Reed's advantages cannot be overlooked. He has star potential and makes an already solid A&M rushing attack even scarier.

He is also a connoisseur of the game and knows that good things can happen when preparation meets opportunity.

“When I was a freshman in high school the first four games, I went from being the starter to being the starter,” Reed said. “I always prepare as if I were the starter. So when my name is called, I will be there.”

Not to be overlooked, the Aggies' defense intercepted LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier three times, contributing to the Aggies' most important SEC win in program history as they move into sole possession of first place in the conference with four games to play.

A special season in College Station might have gotten even better because they may have their greatest home run hitter at quarterback since Johnny Manziel won the Heisman in 2012. Reed still has a long way to go before he reaches that level, but the eyes didn't lie on Saturday.

The child has the potential to be great.

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