Few small-school quarterbacks took the college football world by storm quite the way that Bailey Zappe of Western Kentucky did as he reset the FBS record books.
And he’s not the only WKU signal-caller to garner a large amount of attention as the Hilltoppers’ Austin Reed opens as a potential early-round 2024 NFL Draft pick and Heisman Trophy candidate.
But Reed, who led all quarterbacks with 4,744 yards last season, is not focused on becoming the next Zappe.
“I never wanted to be Bailey Zappe and I never wanted to be what he did. Replacing Bailey was going to be nearly impossible because of just how great of a player he was,” Reed told me when I sat down with him earlier this offseason.
“For me, it was more of ‘I’m going to be Austin Reed, I’m going to run this offense the best way I can and I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of that.’ But I do think people like him have sent a strong message to the NFL that people from this offense can have success and that’s what I’m trying to do.'”
And that last part is something that’s incredibly important to Reed. It’s sort of poetic in a way that Reed — as an Air Raid quarterback — has a chance to be one of the best passers to take the field this year in the first college football season since the beginning of Air Raid guru Mike Leach’s career that the sport will forever be without ‘The Pirate.’
Though Leach is and will forever be one of the most heralded coaches to ever take the sideline, there has always been a negative (while unsubstantiated and disproven) stigma surrounding Air Raid quarterbacks with knocks on presumed footwork issues and coming from an offense that is “too simple.”
It doesn’t bother Reed at all.
“There’s always been that knock on Air Raid quarterbacks, but you look in the league right now,” Reed said. “Patrick Mahomes is the best one in the league and we run the exact same offense he was running in at Texas Tech. Like, verbatim.”
The list doesn’t stop at Mahomes, either. It’s lengthier than some may expect and all things aside, just about every offense in the NFL includes some type of Air Raid concepts within it.
It’s something that has been the case since it revolutionized football in a permanent manner.
“Jalen Hurts was in the Air Raid at Oklahoma with Lincoln Riley and those were the two guys playing in the Super Bowl this year,” Reed said. “So, for me, you saw Bailey (Zappe) have the success he had last year with the Patriots. And so, I think the Air Raid is preparing guys.”
Reed feels the Air Raid is misperceived in some ways, especially when it comes to where mental processing is concerned.
“There are plays that exist in the Air Raid that do have long names, there are multiple reads. You almost have to make more reads within the Air Raid offense than you do in a pure progression pro-style offense. I feel like it prepares guys well and puts you in a position to really manipulate the field.”
Something of a coach on the field, Reed says when he gets up to the line of scrimmage, he has a call signaled into him. But it is more of a suggestion, per se, than anything else.
“From there, he signals to the wide receivers what they have, sets the protection for the offensive line (something he is fully in charge of) and assigns the appropriate responsibility to the running back.
“I can change the play at any given time I want to,” Reed said. “If I see something out there that I like or don’t like, I can change it. I feel like that’s something that’s something next level.”
Carrying that large of a load is something Reed feels like has made him a better all-around player.
“When I get the initial signal, it’s more of guidance for what we could possibly run,” Reed said. “But after that, here are the keys. I feel like my field recognition is something I’m very proud of. I feel like it’s something I know really well as far as what’s going on on the field.”
On top of that, Reed has no shortage of confidence in what he brings to the table as a prospect.
“The term ‘gunslinger’ gets thrown around a lot with me, obviously being in the Air Raid. I like to go out there and take chances,” Reed said.
“I feel like I have a really strong arm and a natural feel for how the game goes. And being able to improvise — I feel like I’m a master improviser out on the field. I feel like I can make plays and I feel like the play is never dead when I’m out there. For me, it’s all about putting the team in a good position to win.”
At the same time, he’s an equally self-aware player who has a detailed list of areas he would like to see personal improvement in.
“There were times I may have been inaccurate on the field, some stuff with mechanical things that can be improved in the season,” Reed said.
“Decision-making things, getting more into the offense and understanding where my eyes need to be and making the right decisions. I take a lot of chances. But, it’s taking the right chances and making sure I take the chances I can get away with… that’s all why I came back. I felt like I could come back this year and those are all things I can fix. There’s nothing I look at like ‘I can’t fix that at all and there’s no way to improve on that.'”
Reed has the right approach and mindset when it comes to continuing to rise up the draft boards and for the massive hype train that is now firmly on the rails surrounding him with no signs of slowing down.
“I’m thankful for it, I’m not going to act like I don’t see it,” Reed said. “It’s a blessing. It’s something that I’m thankful for and at the end of the day, it’s not something that’s going to change who I am or how I prepare because I never feel like what I do is enough”
“I’m happy to be receiving it, but there’s always room for improvement and a job that must still be done.”
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