MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / July 10, 1999

LAPLACE – When he was at Destrehan High School, Edward Reed always had the knack for making the big play.

Now that Reed is at the University of Miami (Fla.), he’s still got it.With the Hurricanes trailing third-ranked UCLA, 45-42, in the final minute of the final game of the season, Reed forced Bruins’ receiver Brad Melsby to fumble. Miami recovered on its own 26-yard line with 50 seconds leftand drove for the winning touchdown, keeping UCLA out of the national championship game. The 49-45 victory that helped propel the Hurricanesinto the Micron PC Bowl, where Miami defeated North Carolina State, 46- 23, to finish the season 9-3.

“It was a great moment for all of us,” Reed said of the win over UCLA. “Weknew we could beat them. It wasn’t a shock to us, but we shocked thenation. It was a great feeling.”Reed enjoyed a stellar redshirt freshman season with the Hurricanes. Hewas selected to both the Sporting News and Football News Freshman All- American teams after playing in all 12 games and intercepting two passes for 53 yards to tie for the team lead. His 90 total tackles (60 solo) led theMiami secondary and was third best on the team. Reed added a team highfour forced fumbles and had seven pass break-ups to place second on the team.

He also returned six punts for 40 yards and a kickoff for 10 yards.

Reed’s best game of the season came in Miami’s 34-31 victory at West Virginia in the sixth week of the season. In that game he recorded aseason-high 15 tackles (10 solo), a sack and a pass break-up. Hisinterception of a Marc Bulger pass at the Hurricane 21-yard line ended a Mountaineer scoring drive in the second quarter. Reed then set up thewinning scoring drive with a 7-yard sack of Bulger on third-and-8 at the West Virginia 15-yard line. For the performance, Reed was selected as theBig East Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week.

“Last year, I think I played a decent season,” Reed said. “I think I couldhave done better at the end. I think I still have a lot to learn. I’m going tomake changes this year and take it from there.”The stellar season carried over to the spring when Reed competed with the Hurricanes’ track and field squad. On his first toss in the javelin in hisfirst meet of the season, the Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Reed set a school record with a throw of 217 feet, 7 inches to win the event.

Reed has been playing sports pretty much all his life. His dad was afootball coach and inspired him to play the sport. He played on theplayground level first and started again when he entered Destrehan High School.

Reed became “Mr. Versatility” at the school. In addition to football, hewas a standout in track, basketball and baseball. He was named the RiverParishes Athlete of the Year his junior year.

During one weekend his senior year he made two 3-pointers in the final minute to help the Wildcats get past cross-parish rival Hahnville. The nextday, Reed beat out 17 competitors, including future collegiate quarterbacks Craig Nall and Major Applewhite, to win the Louisiana competition of the Footaction NFL High School Quarterback Challenge. Hewould go on to hit three home runs in a game during the baseball season later that year.

But it was on the football field where Reed left his mark. As a junior hehad over 900 all-purpose yards while playing quarterback, running back, punt returner and kick returner. He also intercepted six passes as a freesafety and averaged 39 yards per punt.

The following year Reed was named to Class 5A all-State first team after recording 83 tackles, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 12 passes defended. Against Lutcher that year he intercepted three passesand returned a punt 89 yards to give the Wildcats the victory.

Reed’s knack for the big play continued in Destrehan’s final game against South Lafourche as he returned a punt a 68 yards to put the Wildcats ahead 14-7 in the third quarter. With the score the same in the final seconds andDestrehan needing to win by nine in order to go into the playoffs as the first seed in District 7-5A, Aaron Smith intercepted a pass on the final play of the game. Smith lateraled the ball to Reed, who took it the rest ofthe way for the score and gave the Wildcats the district title.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my senior year,” Reed said.

Reed said he enjoyed every moment playing for coaches Tim Rebowe and Scott Martin at Destrehan and said he and his teammates still get together to talk about those days.

“It was a magic moment every last game,” Reed said. “Allen (Morton),Rondell (Mealey), Joe Smith and I are always talking about us playing for Destrehan.”Reed chose Miami over a number of other schools, including LSU, Tulane and Florida. He was redshirted his freshman year after hurting his ankleafter playing in two games. The decision to redshirt was a move that Reedsaid helped him a lot both in school and football. He added there is quite anadjustment between the high school and college game.

“College is a lot quicker,” Reed said. “There is a lot more to learn. Schoolwise, it’s up to you. You go or you don’t. All the decisions are yours. Thatis when I became a man.”As far as advice for an incoming freshman, Reed said, “Stick it out and live it up to the fullest.”Expectations are high for both Reed and Miami this season. The Hurricanesare ranked in the Top 15 in a number of preseason publications, and The Sporting News has named Reed to its preseason All-Big East Conference first team. The road will not be easy for Miami, which must overcome thelost of running back Edgerrin James, a first round draft pick by Indianapolis, and a schedule that includes Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State and East Carolina in its first five games.

But Reed, who is starting at strong safety is his sophomore year, has high hopes for the team, saying both the offense and defense looked strong in spring practice.

“I want to contribute to my team winning; that’s what really matters to me,” Reed said of his goals for the season, which also include having more interceptions than last year and going over the 100-tackle mark.

“We’re going to do anything and all we can and have no regrets. The sky’sthe limit.”

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