Taking a closer look: J.R. Reed

As the beginning of spring practice looms, the story of the off-season thus far is the #SicEm17 recruiting class. With this class come an infusion of talent that will be set to make an immediate impact with the Bulldogs.

But they’re not the only ones.

Currently on the roster, other relative newcomers are primed to fill positions of need.

From transfers to redshirts to practice squad and special teams players, UGASports is going to profile players from this group who can take the next step for the upcoming season; from the perspective of their high school coaches.

Today, we start with cornerback J.R. Reed.

Last season recap:

Reed Sat out the 2015-2016 season as a transfer after spending the previous season with Tulsa where he recorded five tackles and one pass breakup in 13 games. He has three years left of eligibility.

High school:

Reed attended Prestonwood Christian in Plano, Texas. During his senior year, he lead his team to a 12-2 record and the state championship as a two-way starter and wide receiver and cornerback.

What his coach said:

Reed’s high school coach was Chris Cunningham, he said he met Reed during his sophomore year of high school and something immediately stood out.

“He first made his name in the return game as a sophomore,” Cunningham said, “After that he transitioned into our only two-way starter, his leadership was evident in everything he did.”

Cunningham described Reed as a “24/7 leader” regardless of who was around or where he was. Reed led by example; so much so that he was named captain of the team for their championship season in 2013. He originally signed with Tulsa out of high school but after one season he transferred to Georgia. Cunningham believes it was Reed’s competitiveness that lead him to a decision.

“If I could give a reason, I would say he wanted to be at a place where the culture and expectations were a national championship,” Cunningham said, “He was looking for a place where the football program was a more integral part of the school.”

And Reed found exactly what he’s looking for, but finding a spot on the field will not be easy.

The Bulldogs already have some talented players at the position, including returning starters Malkom Parrish and Deandre Baker. With young backs like Mecole Hardman and Tyrique McGee already on the roster and the several commits from the class of 2017, the competition will be fierce. But according to his coach, the redshirt year will pay huge dividends for Reed.

“I think this year gave him a chance to find his role with the team,” Cunningham said, “He’s versatile. If you need him to come down and stop the run, he’s able and as a cover guy he has all the tools to cover the best in the SEC.”