JAY REED’S TIME IS NOW AT LAFAYETTE
By JAKE THOMPSON
L
afayette is known for producing some of the top running backs in the state and Jay Reed is ready to join that group. After a breakout sophomore season in 2020, Reed is primed to be the Commodores leading threat on the ground. Success was something Reed’s coaches saw in him last season and he proved it on the field. Now, Reed has shown what he can do and will not be under the radar of opposing defenses. “We told him last year (he could be special),” said Lafayette head coach Michael Fair. “There’s some pressure on that group. Lafayette, long before I got here, they’ve been known for these really good backs. To
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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2021
see all these big and strong kids that get the job done and he’s another one of those. He takes a lot of pride in it. He wants to be great and that’s what sets him apart from a lot of those others guys out there.” Last season, Reed rushed for 1,249 yards and 10 touchdowns on 198 carries for an average of just over six years per carry. He was the Commodores leading rusher by nearly 800 years as quarterback Tyrus Williams was the next closest with 462 yards. In order to continue that success, Reed hit the weight room and changed his body. In 2020, Reed was playing at around 240 pounds and is already under that weight entering this season. Despite Reed getting slimmer, the junior is still going to be looked upon
“His body’s changing and he’s starting to mature as a young man. But he’s built for durability. Even in the Columbus game last year where we had to come from behind to win the game and he had about 25 carries. Well, his 25th carry was better than his first carry. So, that’s the kind of back he is.”
