"It’s created an interesting dynamic": Eli Drinkwitz limits Briah Reed’s role as Missouri faces off against her brother Marcel Reed’s Texas A&M

Eli Drinkwitz took a new and strange approach in practice ahead of the Week 6 game against Texas A&M on Friday. The coach had restricted a staff from practice until the game was played.

Missouri’s defense will have to take on impressive Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, who has been starting in place of injured starter Conner Weigman, this weekend. The quarterback’s sister, Briah Reed works as an assistant director of on-campus recruiting, for the Tigers.

Ahead of the SEC encounter this weekend, Drinkwitz locked Briah out of practice until the conclusion of the game against Texas A&M. The coach is leaving no opportunity for potential double-dealing, which could give Texas A&M an edge, in the Week 6 game.

“It’s created an interesting dynamic. At the end of the day that’s her brother and that’s her blood, and we know that she’s doing her job here,” Drinkwitz said in his media availability.

“But family is always so important and so we don’t want her to be in any type of conflict of interest. In fact I just saw her in the hallway just a second ago. But I’m not letting her in the copy room and she’s sure not going to have her eyes on the scouting report,” he added.

Mike Elko joked about Eli Drinkwitz's decision

In his media availability on Wednesday, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko joked about the dynamics Eli Drinkwitz talked about regarding Marcel Reed. He briefly applauded the achievement of the quarterback’s family in college football.

“I was hoping maybe she could get out to practice and find some secrets for us,” Elko said Wednesday. “Nah, I’m kidding, of course. That would be crossing the lines.

“But I think it’s a football family that Marcel is a part of. Obviously, his dad has been involved in college football for a long time, his sister is involved in it and Marcel now is coming into his own as well.”

Missouri will enter the game at Kyle Field with a perfect record after four consecutive wins. Texas A&M, on the other hand, boast a 4-1 record with the only loss coming against Notre Dame in the season opener.

The two teams last met in 2021 with the Aggies coming out victorious. However, Eli Drinkwitz’s team has evolved significantly since then, which gives the encounter a new outlook.