Dec. 15, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. -
By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
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At 6-foot-7, 314 pounds, Jah Reid has always been associated with the word ``potential'' when it comes to his enormous promise as UCF's right offensive tackle.
This season the Haines City native has started to live up to that potential and has become not only the anchor of UCF's steadily improving offensive line, but also a future NFL prospect.
Reid, a redshirt junior, was so dominant this season while opening holes for tailback Brynn Harvey and protecting quarterback Brett Hodges that he was named to Conference USA's first-team squad last week.
It was quite a leap for the player who came to campus three years ago at approximately 370 pounds and lacking the stamina and footwork to be much of a force along the offensive line. But 50 pounds later and after hours of work in the film room and weight room, Reid has shocked even himself by finally starting to live up to his enormous potential.
``I didn't even know (about the all-conference selection) until that morning when my uncle texted me and said, `Congratulations.' Then, I checked on the internet real quick and I was so pumped,'' Reid said. ``I give all the credit to the conditioning staff because I came in real heavy. And now to be first-team all-conference, that's such a big jump for me. It's really awesome.''
What UCF's players find equally awesome is that Reid is almost unanimously the most improved player on the team. And he will certainly play a big role in the St. Petersburg Bowl Presented by Beef O'Brady's when UCF (8-4) faces Rutgers (8-4). The Scarlet Knights ranked 20th in the nation this season in stopping the run, allowing just 109 yards per game, and creating a big challenge for Reid and his mates along the offensive line.
``They are so athletic and they come so hard. They're a lot like our defense,'' Reid said of the Scarlet Knights, who are in a bowl for the fifth-straight season. ``They really rush the gaps and they are very physical.''
Being more physical was a big point of emphasis for Reid this season. When evaluating Reid's play, coach George O'Leary often looks at Reid's elbows to determine his aggressiveness. If his elbows are out, that means he's ``catching'' defenders. O'Leary prefers to see his tackle with the enormous reach to keep his arms extended and deliver a blow first and foremost.
O'Leary agreed that Reid is among his most improved players on this team, but he wants to see him be more dominant. And he wants him to overwhelm foes with his size and strength more on a consistent basis.
``He's a guy who has just started to grow into his body. I think he'll only get better as his techniques get better,'' O'Leary said. ``He's improved a lot from last year, but consistency is still the thing that he's got to get down.
``He's improved immensely as far as his pass protection and his movement at the line of scrimmage,'' O'Leary continued. ``I think he has a lot, a lot of potential ahead of him. The future is outstanding for him if he continues to grow as a player.''
Reid's step was so big this season that the Knights were able to depend on him in critical situations and run behind him in must-have situations. His vast improvement allowed Harvey to run for 1,077 yards and score 14 touchdowns. And overall, the Knights offense was dramatically better this season, averaging 26.3 points and 348 yards a game.
Reid knows now that if he can continue to improve, and possibly make as big a jump next season as he did this season, that his potential could take him to the NFL. After all, at 6-foot-7 with long arms and nimble feet, Reid has the size and agility to dominate college football and also hold his own physically in the NFL.
``I've tried to improve moving my feet, but I'm also working to punch more and use my arms to my advantage. I try to shock them before they shock me,'' he said. ``If I want to be as good as I can be I have to keep working as hard as I have been in the past. Now, I want to make another big jump again and see where it takes me.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFathletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.