Preparation, Relationships And More Lessons From The Turf With Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed

Success at the highest level doesn’t happen by accident. In a new episode of The Turf: Powered by D1, Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed shares the lessons, experience, and insights that have shaped him into becoming one of the biggest rising stars in the SEC. 

From his football upbringing and leadership style, to recruiting and training habits, Reed offers valuable insights for athletes, parents, and coaches looking to reach the next level.

Here are the best moments and takeaways from the episode:

Preparation Creates Opportunity

Before he was a starter leading his team to the College Football Playoff, Reed had to learn how to prepare as if he was a starter, even from the bench. He credits his father, a longtime college football coach, for adapting this mindset to build the habit to prepare as if he was starting, even if he was not.

“My dad just always told me to prepare. Prepare like you’re gonna be the starter, even if you’re not… and then when my name was called, I was ready.”

That mindset paid off, as Marcel shared how he had to wait his turn on the bench when first arriving at Texas A&M, and then eventually receiving his opportunity to start and lead the team. His message to young athletes was clear: success comes from being ready before your name is called.

Leadership Is Built Through Relationships

On every team that he has been on, Reed has found himself in a leadership role. Whether it is being the quiet leader who leads by example, or the vocal captain that holds his teammates accountable. However, Reed has found that leadership isn’t about being the loudest one in the room, it’s about earning trust and building genuine relationships.

“The way I lead and the way my dad taught me is just connecting with people. Every year I’ve been at Texas A&M I could name every single person in the locker room… I try to hang out with every single person on the team outside of football, just because you never know what someone is going through”

Reed centers his leadership style around the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. This allows him to treat his teammates well, understand their background, and earn their trust on and off the field.

The Advantage of Being a Multi-Sport Athlete

Reed advocates strongly for young athletes to get involved in as many sports as their schedule allows. Growing up, he played football, basketball, and baseball, and says that his involvement in those different sports and environments led him to be a better total athlete.

“There’s different movements in each sport. You have to use different parts of your brain in each sport, and different skills.”

This serves as a valuable lesson for parents and young athletes navigating the youth sports landscape to not specialize in one sport too early. Developing those different movements, athletic skills, and mental abilities ultimately make athletes better competitors.

Choosing Texas A&M

Marcel shared his story about ultimately de-committing from Ole Miss and choosing Texas A&M to play his college career. He emphasizes young athletes to focus on finding programs and coaches that genuinely care about them and their families, rather than choosing a school based on reputation alone.

“You gotta find a place that you think is genuine… The coaches who are reaching out to you, finding ways to check on you and your family, those are the ones you gotta look for when you go to college because that’s ultimately the same treatment you’re gonna get when you get there.”

Marcel stresses the need to find a place that is genuine and will allow you to grow for young athletes going through the recruitment process.

From his early days as a multi-sport athlete to leading one of college football's most storied programs, Marcel Reed's journey has been defined by preparation, leadership, and a relentless drive to improve. As he enters another season at Texas A&M, those same qualities continue to fuel his pursuit of success on and off the field.

D1 Training is built for the Everyday Athlete—no matter your age or fitness level. Whether you’re looking for personalized coaching through personal training, the energy and accountability of a group fitness class, or a variety of high-impact fitness classes, our expert coaches are here to help you reach your goals. D1 also specializes in youth strength and conditioning, developing young athletes with age-appropriate programming that builds confidence, strength, and long-term success. Wherever you are in your fitness journey, D1 is the place to train.