SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 17, 2025

Ar'maj Reed-Adams

Texas A&M Aggies

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're here with Ar'maj. He wants to say a couple of words.

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Howdy. It's a pleasure to be here. Nice to meet all of you. Thanks for having me.

THE MODERATOR: Have you seen teammates come to this before and wondering what it was like?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Definitely. I was very envious. I always wanted to come to one of these. I'm just glad to be here.

THE MODERATOR: We aren't overworking you here, are we?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Not at all. It's a pleasure. I'm having fun.

THE MODERATOR: Open it up for questions.

Q. Where have you seen growth and development in Marcel over the last few months?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Every way possible. Marcel always approached the game as a starter, as a pro. So just him growing. He was young and not as much experience, but the way he came in and helped us out, like it's something great to build off of.

Q. What was it about the values that your coaches expressed to you when you were getting recruited by Texas A&M that made you want to choose that college?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: It was clear cut and easy. And having a head coach like Elko is fun. He's clear. He tell you what he really thinks. And he don't lie to us. He says all the time, Have I lied to you yet? We all say, No. He's like, Just believe me, then.

And then just how family oriented the coaches is and everybody around the building, you can tell they've been together for a minute and really value each other.

Just hearing Coach Troop and all those other coaches, all their characters come out, and invite my family in, it was special.

Q. How excited are you to get another shot at Auburn after having to see them storm the field last season?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Yeah, it's definitely personal. Like, it's coming. That's all I've got to say.

Q. What are some goals that you have for your team this season, and what role do you think you're going to play in accomplishing them?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Dominate in every way possible. Not make these games close. Some of those games that we won and lost last year shouldn't have even been close. So we're trying to make a statement, for real.

And the part I bring is being the alpha that everybody want to come out. When you have a guy like me in your program, I make people want to be alphas. So I try to bring the best out of everybody.

Q. I know you're going to say it's personal, but having grown up in Texas, how much does it mean to you that you get to play in the Lone Star Showdown in the second year after having it be brought back?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: It's very special, especially my parents wanted to come to Texas A&M. I'm living a family dream. Winning that game, I call myself the Texas star. So it's personal, like you said.

Q. You guys have talked about the lofty goals you have, wanting to get to the championship game since it was in your sights last year and in your control. What do you feel like the biggest steps you have taken this year are to get to that?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: First, realizing that the goals we have ain't lofty. They're right here in our control. Like you said, we was one play away from being in the SEC championship. I had faith all the way until it was six zeroes, four zeroes on the clock versus Texas.

I'm sorry, I forgot what the question is, but it's like we're coming. We're coming. For sure.

Q. What areas of your game do you think you have improved this offseason that will contribute to the success of Texas A&M?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: The growth of my mental IQ, being able to communicate better and have my eyes up and see things more and learn more football, just trying to spread that knowledge throughout everybody.

Q. A lot has been made of the home field advantage at Kyle Field. What it's like playing in front of those fans?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: It's exciting, breathtaking. The energy in that place can shake and move stuff. It feels like the stadium is shaking. It gets so loud sometimes that I can't hear myself breathe or think. So it's hard to play, definitely.

Q. How do you feel about the Southwest Classic moving back to a home and home? You go to Fayetteville this year instead of it being at AT&T.

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: I'm just glad I got to be in this last one at AT&T. It will be fun carrying the trophy off the field.

Q. What is the kind of legacy that you'd like to leave behind at Texas A&M, and how do you want your fellow teammates to know that you have impacted them?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Like I said, when I first committed here, signed to come play, I'm trying to put the goon back in Maroon Goon and make it a staple again, make every offensive lineman in the country want to come play at Texas A&M.

Q. We talked about it earlier, but how do you feel like you continue to grow as a leader on this team?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Just fully trusting myself and building relationships with my teammates. I feel like that's the biggest thing for a leader, is have a personal relationship with a bunch of different people.

And then also having them respect you, not just off the field, but on the field as well, respect your game and think highly of you.

Q. What's the toughest defensive line you've had to go against?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Toughest defensive line? I don't want to give nobody that credit. I'll tell you after the season.

Q. Can a team have success if the offensive line isn't producing and gelling?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Not at all. We seen it last year with the Eagles winning the Super Bowl. It started with the offensive line. I feel like we've got the same capability here at Texas A&M.

Q. Why are offensive linemen always the most interesting guys to talk to on a team?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Because you don't know us at all. We only talked about when we do something bad. So we try not to be talked about at all.

Q. You mentioned Coach Troop. Just your relationship with him and how he's impacted you?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: He's a great guy. He impacted me mentally, physically, and spiritually. The way he pushes me on the field to give more and do more for the people around me, the way he encourages me and gives me a boost of energy with his words, and then always reaching out and trying to help. And definitely helping us connect with God.

Q. You've tried to build personal relationships, not just with the O-line, but everyone on the team. Talk about the relationships you have with that running back room.

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Those guys, they hilarious. They're all characters. And our meeting rooms are next to each other for this exact reason, because we've got to be one of the closest groups. We stop by, peek our head in in a Coach Troop meeting, and they definitely do the same, just, "Hey," and all kinds of stuff.

And they like being around us. They like messing with us, push and chase, just going back and forth, me and EJ having a conversation and talking to freshmen. We have very close group.

Q. You talked about the Eagles' offensive line. Is there one of them that you look up to or someone that you'd like to play with alongside of in the future?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Play next to Lane Johnson would be special. Mekhi Becton, the way he changed his career last year and really showed up for the Eagles, big ticket for sure.

Q. I'm sure there are former Aggies that hang around the program. Any that you've met who have made an impact on you?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Erik McCoy, he's been a huge impact. Just learning his mental way he attacked the game and his process and how his senior year went for him.

Q. Are there any teammates that you notice that fly under the radar but are a huge contribution to the team and maybe have a chance this season to take a big leap?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: I feel like Cashius Howell is that player for us. If he got more snaps, he probably would have led the country in sacks. That guy can do things I haven't seen. He's very special. That says a lot about the two guys that was in front of him last year at the defensive end.

Also Dalton Brooks, he's probably one of the hardest-hitting football players I've ever been around. I've seen running backs run full speed at him, and his feet settle, and they go backwards.

So those two players right there.

Q. In your brotherhood of the football team, what have they added value to you?

AR'MAJ REED-ADAMS: Making this thing enjoyable. Making it fun. Making it an actual brotherhood. A lot of people in a lot of places preach that and say that, but here it's actually true. We talk about everything. We have a bunch of group chats, everything, just making it fun.