Outta Pocket with RG3 — Marcel Reed: Why He’s the Best QB in College Football

Podcast: Outta Pocket with RG3
Host: Robert Griffin III (RG3)
Guest: Marcel Reed (Texas A&M Quarterback, 2025 Heisman Trophy Candidate)
Date: December 8, 2025

Overview

In this engaging, rapid-fire episode of "Outta Pocket," RG3 dives deep with Texas A&M’s star quarterback Marcel Reed, exploring his journey from a coach's kid in Tennessee to national prominence as a multi-sport athlete and top Heisman contender. Reed candidly discusses leadership, multi-sport training, viral moments in college football, Heisman favorites, and life off the field—with a generous serving of humor and real talk about the highs and lows of being in the spotlight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Growing Up a Coach’s Kid

[01:50–03:41]

• Background: Marcel’s father coached at Tennessee State. From a young age, Marcel traveled with his dad and immersed himself in the football environment.
• Pressure & Perspective: “I really didn't have too much pressure. It was kind of fun… I felt like I've been there before, so it wasn't hard.” — Marcel Reed [02:05]
• On being judged differently: “Nobody ever looked at me differently… I was the same kid I am right now.” [03:09]

2. Multi-Sport Athlete Advantage

[05:06–09:32]

• Reed credits playing baseball, basketball, and football for shaping him as a versatile competitor and leader.
• “Let [kids] play every sport they want to play.” [05:06] – On why parents shouldn’t force sport specialization.
• His favorite basketball player growing up: “Russell Westbrook. I was a huge OKC fan…” [05:48]
• He claims he could’ve made the NBA: “Oh, yeah. My coaches in the meeting room… always laugh at me when I say I would have been in the NBA.” [07:20]
• On athleticism: “Football players can probably do a lot of things. I don't know.” [06:58]

3. Heisman Trophy Conversation

[09:40–12:46]

• Top Four Heisman Finalists, per Reed:
  1. Himself
  2. Diego Pavia (“He's got that swag about him, too.” [10:09])
  3. Fernando Mendoza (“I train with him in the summer… He has dry humor. Like Michael Scott from The Office.” [10:20])
  4. Jeremiah Love or Julian Saying
• Why he deserves the Heisman: “I think just based off of… what I've done in big games. I mean, I think I'm one of the best players in the country.” [11:44]
• On winning 11 straight games: “It's hard to win games in the SEC. It's hard to win 11 straight. Like, a lot of people don't do that.” [12:10]

4. “Heisman Moment” – South Carolina Game

[12:54–14:09]

• Describes his defining moment: “It was me and God at that point… We just focused on one play at a time… almost 300 [yards] in the second half. I mean, I've never done that in my life.” [13:19]
• RG3 celebrates the comeback as a true Heisman moment: “I thought you did an amazing job coming back in the second half, and it really showed the true character of who you were.” [15:14]

5. Viral Spiral Segment: Trending Topics in College Football

Lane Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss for LSU

[15:47–17:44]

• Marcel’s reaction: “I felt like it was gonna happen… You can't talk about it that long and it not happen.” [16:00]
• On former commitment to Ole Miss and family ties bringing him to Texas A&M: “My dad's side of the family is from Texas… I felt comfortable being in Texas. It's essentially like Tennessee in a way.” [16:59]

Epidemic of Players Spitting

[20:04–22:17]

• Marcel: “I've never been spit on… It depends on how chippy the game is… If they get it on my lip, I might crash.” [20:43]
• RG3: “It’s like the ultimate disrespect.” [21:23]

Managing Receivers’ Emotions

[22:18–24:12]

• On teammates angry about not getting the ball: “If you're open, I'm gonna throw you the ball. If you're not, probably not gonna throw you the ball… Can't let your emotions get to you.” [23:18]

Transfer Portal & NIL Influence

[25:08–27:07]

• On hypothetical $4M offer: “I have to talk with my parents.” [25:27]
• On loyalty to A&M: “I don't think there's any reason I need to leave Texas A&M. I have the job, and it's mine to lose, and I don't think I will.” [26:42]
• Announces return for next season: “I'm coming back. I'll be back.” [27:11]

6. Hot Seat Segment: Rapid Fire and Fun

Deleting a Fanbase

[27:18–27:46]

• Marcel: “Texas… I don’t like Texas.” [27:41]

Most Out-of-Pocket DM

[28:02–28:54]

• Shares a DM involving racist slurs: “I got the word that you ain't supposed to get as an African American man… in all caps. With the er.” [28:27]

Worst Mascot, Rivalries, and Fanbases

[29:55–31:15]

• Calls out Cal Bear: “That bear just look weird.” [29:57]
• Confusion on the meaning of “Boomer Sooner.”

Clearing Up Rumors: Dating Sunisa Lee?

[31:23–31:43]

• Marcel: “No… I mean, mutually… I can't. I don't.” [31:39]
• Co-host: “That's… it's not a no, guys.” [31:42]

Dream Girl

[31:55–32:25]

• “Not really my type, but she’s really pretty: Kehlani. I like her music, too.” [32:19]

Pre-game Superstition

[32:48–34:34]

• Wears the same Bob Ross underwear (“No mistakes, just happy accidents.”) since high school—even washing them in a hotel sink and drying by ironing: “That's dedication to the bit. Not superstitious. But just a little stitious.” [34:28]

Wide Receiver Who Wouldn’t Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

[34:52–35:19]

• “Jonah Wilson. He too loud… He'd be scared.” [35:04]

Top 5 QBs in the NFL (Right Now)

[35:23–36:18]

• Drake Maye
• Joe Burrow
• Jordan Love
• Patrick Mahomes
• Lamar Jackson

Top 5 QBs in College Football

[36:24–37:07]

• Fernando Mendoza
• Julian Sayin
• Marcel Reed (himself)
• Diego Pavia
• Trinidad Chambers

NIL Changing Life

[37:12–38:47]

• “Well, I don't live in a dorm… It is four bedrooms, three and a half bathroom. It's pretty nice.” [37:12]
• No friends lost—except for a teammate still wanting a ride on his NIL-funded private jet.

Dream NFL Team

[38:48–39:44]

• “Pretty cool to play for the Titans… I like Green Bay… Play for the Redskins. My grandfather played for the Redskins.” [38:55–39:24]

Silly Hypotheticals

[40:07–41:03]

• Prefers fighting a hundred duck-sized horses over one horse-sized duck: “I think I could take… I can't take a duck the size of a horse.” [40:37]

Legacy & Biopic

[42:00–43:44]

• What will people say in ten years? “He’s a really nice guy. Because I’m a really nice guy.” [42:09]
• Who would play him? “Michael B. Jordan's probably playing me.” [43:37]

Pregame Playlist

[43:59–44:27]

• Shuffle includes Drake, Taylor Swift, Luke Combs, Chris Brown. “16 minutes before kickoff I play ‘Tried Our Best’ by Drake and then ‘Demon Mode’ by Nardo Wick.” [44:16]

Crossover Sport Challenges

[44:41–46:29]

• On guarding Caitlin Clark: “I'm not gonna say I would lock her up, but she's not scoring all those points on me.” [44:55]
• Would lose to Serena Williams in tennis and can’t do a backflip on a beam like Simone Biles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On His Heisman Worthiness:

  “I think I'm one of the best players in the country… the record shows it. It's hard to win games in the SEC. It's hard to win 11 straight. Like, a lot of people don't do that.”
  — Marcel Reed [11:44]

• Defining Leadership in Crisis:

  “It was me and God at that point… all we've done is shoot ourself in the foot, and we don't have another foot to shoot.”
  — Marcel Reed on his South Carolina comeback [13:19]

• On Modern College Football Business:

  “It's a business. And you're in the business of being in the best place for you.”
  — RG3 [26:12]

• Dealing with the Dark Side of Fame:

  “I got the word that you ain't supposed to get as an African American man… in all caps. With the er.”
  — Marcel Reed [28:27]

• Classic Sports Debate:

  “I can't take a duck the size of a horse. I can do 100 duck size horses.”
  — Marcel Reed [40:40]

• On His Legacy:

  “He’s a really nice guy? Because I’m a really nice guy. I think so.”
  — Marcel Reed [42:09]

Timestamps for Key Topics

• Coach’s Kid & Leadership: [01:50–03:41]
• Multi-Sport Mentality: [05:06–09:32]
• Heisman Trophy Talk: [09:40–12:46]
• Defining Heisman Moment: [12:54–14:09]
• Lane Kiffin & Coaching Drama: [15:47–17:44]
• Spitting Incidents: [20:04–22:17]
• Managing Hotheaded Receivers: [22:18–24:12]
• NIL & Transfer Portal Realities / Loyalty to A&M: [25:08–27:11]
• Hot Seat: Fanbases, DMs, Girlfriend Rumors: [27:18–32:25]
• Superstitions & Funny Confessions: [32:48–34:34]
• Sports & Pop Culture Hot Takes: [34:52–46:29]

Final Thoughts

With humor, candor, and grounded self-awareness, Marcel Reed delivers a rare look behind the curtain of college football stardom. Balancing serious topics with viral fun, this episode is a must-listen for fans seeking the personality beyond the helmet, and a snapshot into the motivations and mindset that make a true leader—on the field and off.

Will we be seeing Marcel Reed in New York for the Heisman? As he says:

“Yes, you will.” [46:58]