By Jay Skurski
Jordan Reed
Position: Tight end
School: Florida
Measurements: 6-foot-2, 236 pounds
40 time: 4.72 seconds. 225-pound bench press: 16 reps
2012 stats: 45 catches, 559 yards, 3 TDs
Draft projection: Third-fourth round
Lowdown: A high school quarterback in Connecticut, it took Reed a while to find a home with the Gators. He briefly played quarterback, then experimented at wide receiver and running back before settling in as a tight end in 2011. … His 45 catches last season led all SEC tight ends. … As shown by the positions he’s played, Reed’s flexible. Excellent in the open field, with moves like a running back. He’s got good hands.
Has only average height for today’s tight end and needs to add more bulk to his frame. … A one-dimensional tight end with poor blocking ability. … Has been injury prone in his college career. Reportedly was benched during the Gators’ bowl game this past season because of his attitude.
Draws a comparison to New England tight end Aaron Hernandez, who also is from Connecticut and went to Florida, due to their athleticism and catch-and-run abilities. They both also play the “joker” tight end position, one who lines up in multiple positions on the field (line of scrimmage, slot, out wide, in the backfield or in motion).
He said it: “I feel like there’s so many high draft picks coming out of the SEC each year, and a lot of the guys in the NFL right now were stars in the SEC, so it’s like almost playing against NFL talent every week. And I feel like it gives me an advantage because
I’m used to that level of play and that speed of football. So I feel like that’ll give me an edge when I get to the next level.”
The Buffalo News is profiling 50 prospects in 50 days leading up to next month’s NFL Draft.
tagged
2013 draft | Jordan Reed | Road to the Draft
