Helping transform A&M's O-line, Reed-Adams embraces role as 'OW'

The position abbreviation for Texas A&M offensive lineman Ar’maj Reed-Adams remains uncertain.

He’s likely going to start the football season opener against Notre Dame at “OT.”

Eventually, he could be used at “G.” Playing time at “C” isn’t out of the question.

He has even lined up in some sets at “TE.”

However, if the 6-foot-5, 330-pound junior transfer from Kansas by way of DeSoto had his way, his position would be listed as “OW.”

“I joke around with the guys,” the gregarious giant said. “I always tell them I’m not an offensive lineman. I’m an ‘OW’ — Offensive Weapon. I’ll line up out there at X (receiver) if they need me to.”

A&M just needs him.

The Aggies need the Obsessive Warhorse who did Outstanding Work at Kansas. He can be an Overpowering Wrecking ball. He’s Obviously Welcome to an A&M line, which last season was often OverWrought.

There was a time when “OW” for Reed-Adams might have meant OverWeight.

In high school, he reached 410 pounds. But through discipline and hard training, he lost more than 100 pounds before building back to his current weight.

“Hard work and dedication and great people around me,” Reed-Adams said about his transformation.

With more hard work, more dedication and more good people around him, Reed-Adams is confident the Aggies’ offensive line can make a similar transformation.

Except, while his numbers decreased, A&M needs its numbers to increase.

Last season, the Aggies averaged just 136 rushing yards to rank a disappointing 91st in the nation. The Aggies were ranked 87th in sacks allowed.

Those are the statistics of a troubled line.

But the arrival of Reed-Adams, offensive line coach Adam Cushing and a few other changes figure to produce better results for A&M up front.

Reed-Adams raves about Cushing’s coaching style. He’s impressed with tackle Trey Zuhn III’s leadership. He’s in awe of guard Chase Bisontis’ strength. He praises center/guard Mark Nabou Jr.’s intelligence.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Ar’maj Reed-Adams previously spent four seasons at Kansas, where he made 31 appearances and 15 starts.

Reed-Adams also provides a stellar scouting report on himself, regardless of whatever position abbreviation is by his name.

“At tackle, I feel like I’m a very athletic bodied big. Long arms. At tackle, I can hang out there with the best of them,” he said. “At guard, I feel like I can dominate anybody because of my run game ability and being so athletic and able to move my feet.”

He’s eager to demonstrate his ability at a 110,000-seat Kyle Field, which more than doubles the seating capacity of Kansas Memorial Stadium.

“It’s a different feeling,” he said. “It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to get out there with 110 (thousand) strong and kick some ass.”

He has waited a long time. Reed-Adams hoped for a scholarship offer from A&M when he came out of DeSoto High School in 2020.

The offer never came. Instead, he was coaxed to Lawrence by former Kansas coach Les Miles.

“It was literally an honor for coach Miles to come to the house,” said Crystal Reed, Ar’maj’s mother. “He even came to our church. He watched my son practice. Kansas was bittersweet.”

That’s because Crystal also wanted to attend A&M.

She was a 6-foot-2 power forward at Dallas’ Lincoln High School in 1998 but was unable to pursue a collegiate basketball career.

“My mom always wanted to come here,” Ar’maj said. “She had college offers to come to A&M but did not end up coming because my grandmama had a heart attack, so she stayed home.

“I’ve got a picture of my mom and my aunties in A&M gear saying ‘12th Man.’”

Crystal will again be wearing A&M gear on Aug. 31. And she’ll be celebrating more than just driving two-and-a-half hours to the game instead of seven.

It will be an emotional experience seeing her son taking the field in a No. 55 A&M jersey.

“A&M has always been my dream,” she said. “It’s really a blessing to go full circle to see my son playing ball for A&M, even though I didn’t get to.

“You’ll probably catch me crying. It’s a dream come true. I’m at a loss for words. It’s going to be overwhelming.”

OverWhelming, indeed. There’s another “OW.”