Third up in this series is going to be CMU transfer safety Devonni Reed. The hard hitting safety was one of the top prospects in the portal and the Gamecocks went out and got him. Let’s get into what makes Reed such a threat on the field.
The junior safety was a three year starter at Central Michigan. He was second on the team in tackles both this year and last.
He was second team All-MAC in 2021 and third team All-MAC in 2020. He will have 2 years of eligibility for the Gamecocks.
Reed could have declared and been a day three NFL draft pick, but he is coming to Columbia to raise his stock.
Skills
Reed isn’t a ball hawk, but he sure can read an offense well. Watching Reed, the first thing you notice is his ability to tackle.
The hard hitting safety rarely misses a tackle. If he gets hands on you, you are going to the turf.
Along with his ability to tackle, Reed is clearly the QB of the CMU defense. He is an impressive leader from the safety position, something that could come in handy on Clayton White’s defense.
Role in 2022
Reed is very clearly an instant starter and a huge piece for the Gamecocks. The safety core is super young in Columbia, including 2 true freshmen, so Reed is going to have to be the guy at safety.
The rest of the DB’s are strong and experienced with guys like Cam Smith, so if Reed plays to his potential the Gamecocks defense could be even better than last year.
Conclusion
To close, Reed will be very good for the Gamecocks. He is an NFL talent at a weak position. The instant impact of Reed will be felt.
I am excited to see how Clayton White uses Reed, could we see him in the box? Or even sent on safety blitzes?
That’s for White to figure out and us to enjoy. If you were betting against Reed, you might want to cash out now.