Georgia Bulldog great J.R. Reed has received his NFL.com player comparison ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. Reed returned to Athens for his senior season and had a massive season for the Dawgs. Reed recorded 54 tackles, secured a key interception versus Notre Dame, and broke up seven passes in 2019.
Reed had a good NFL Combine and will hope to be drafted into an excellent situation in the NFL. He has the talent to play right out of the gate, but could end up as a back up if a team has good starting safeties.
With Reed’s play recognition and sound coverage, don’t discount the odds of him starting as a rookie. Reed overcame the odds to make it to the University of Georgia after gray-shirting and then playing sparingly as a back-up at Tulsa. Reed transferred to Kirby Smart and UGA following one season at Tulsa.
The rest is history. Reed helped lead Georgia to three straight SEC title game appearances and a National Championship Game appearance. Reed was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award during his 2019 campaign.
Now, Reed is being compared to Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods:
Woods, who went to school at Louisiana Tech, was drafted in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys. Woods, like Reed, relies more on his mental attributes than his physical traits. While both players aren’t bad athletes, neither is ‘elite’.
Woods is entering his fourth season in the NFL. He’s intercepted five passes for the Cowboys and started at safety this past season. Not a bad comparison for Reed. Over three seasons Woods has forced eight turnovers in the NFL. J.R. Reed forced seven in three seasons in Athens.
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