LA Chargers: Getting to know wide reciever Joe Reed
By Gary Johnson
The LA Chargers selected shifty playmaker Joe Reed in the fifth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft, here are some things to know.
Heading into the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the LA Chargers were still in need of more speed on the offensive side of the ball. That led to them selecting Virginia wide receiver Joe Reed with the 151st overall pick. But who exactly is Joe Reed?
Joe Reed was born in Charlotte Court House, Virginia on January 4th, 1998. He played his high school football at Randolf-Henry High School, where his positions included wide receiver, running back, and safety. Reed was a three-star recruit coming out of high school, ultimately deciding to stay close to home and take his talents a couple of hours north to the University of Virginia.
Reed continued to improve year after year as a Cavalier. As a sophomore in 2017, he was an All-ACC Honorable Mention as a specialist. That season he led the ACC with 29.7 yards per kick return.
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The very next season he jumped up to 3rd-Team All-ACC as a specialist, where he was second in the conference at 27.2 yards per return. Last year Reed elevated his production yet again when he made 1st-Team All-ACC at two different positions, all-purpose and specialist.
He led the entire nation at 33.2 yards per return that year. This steady improvement shows not only a strong work ethic, but it also shows his versatility, two traits GM Tom Telesco and HC Anthony Lynn covet.
To further illustrate how versatile Joe Reed really is, just look at his career stats: He accumulated 1,465 yards receiving and 16 TD’s on 129 receptions (11.4 YPC), 3,042 yards and 5TD’s returning kicks (28.7 YPA) and even gained 172 rushing yards and a TD (5.1 YPC).
He really is the epitome of an all-purpose player, and he honestly reminds me of a poor man’s Percy Harvin, if I had to make a comparison.
Next. Fan reaction to the Joe Reed pick
At the end of the day, this guy is a great fit for this team and his skillset complements the other receivers currently on this roster very well. If Reed can keep improving as he has been over the last several years there’s no telling how good he can be. Only time will tell.