LINCOLN — Getting sophomore Kyler Reed to start daydreaming about his potential at receiver used to be a lot easier.
But Reed doesn’t feel out of place anymore.
The athletically gifted pass catcher has finally embraced his transition to the tight end spot, a two-year transformation that he hopes will make him a consistently valuable weapon for the Nebraska offense.
“Now that I’ve been doing it for a while, I feel like a tight end,” Reed said. “When I first got here? No. I played running back and receiver in high school. Rarely did I ever have to block on the line of scrimmage against bigger guys. ... But I am a tight end now.”
It helps that Reed looks the part.
The 6-foot-3 Reed weighs in at 230 now, 25 pounds heavier than he did in the fall of 2008 when he joined the program as a true freshman.
In Reed’s mind, the added bulk and strength make him a more effective blocker, an all-important responsibility for players at his position. The coaching staff doesn’t call on tight ends who can’t block.
And Reed figures that an increase in muscle mass will ultimately make him more durable — Reed was hampered by nagging injuries throughout his redshirt freshman season.
If anything, it’s clear that Reed’s more confident. He looks and feels like a talented tight end.
Now, coach Bo Pelini expects Reed to perform like one.
“He’s playing with a little bit of attitude,” Pelini said. “I think he’s going to be a playmaker for us. I really like what I’ve seen from him.”
Reed’s had his highlights already.
He caught six passes last season and on one of those, he turned an across-the-middle dumpoff into a 22-yard gain against Baylor.
In the 2009 spring game, Reed reeled in a short pass and scampered down the sideline for a 71-yard score. He had four catches for 47 yards in April’s spring game.
There have been plenty of similar moments in practice, according to senior Niles Paul.
“He plays like a wide receiver,” Paul said. “He goes up and gets the ball, makes some incredible catches. He always impresses me.”
That’s exactly why Reed’s playing tight end, so he can use his skill-set to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
Senior Mike McNeill did the same thing for two years — before the coaches chose to move him to receiver during the offseason. Often isolated against slower defenders, McNeill caught 60 passes during his sophomore and junior campaigns.
Reed will be battling senior Dreu Young, junior Ryan Hill and sophomore Ben Cotton for playing time, but he has high expectations for himself. It’s his chance to take over McNeill’s old role.
“I’m pretty much the same size, about the same speed,” he said. “I just want to perform to what I know I can do. The coaches and the team, they expect me to do big things.”
And if down the road, the staff wants Reed to follow McNeill’s lead and suddenly move to receiver, he probably wouldn’t oppose.
He’s officially a tight end, who occasionally has the urge to line up on the outside.
“I still do love receiver and if they ever need me to go back, I will,” Reed said with a smile. “But I do feel like a true tight end.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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