Jerrick Reed II

Early life

Reed was born on August 7, 2000 in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He grew up in Olive Branch, and attended Olive Branch High School. As a senior, he totaled 99 tackles with seven interceptions, being named first-team all-state by the Clarion-Ledger. Reed was not highly recruited due to his height and received no Division I college football offers, eventually choosing to play at Northwest Mississippi Community College.

College career

Reed played only one season for Northwest Mississippi, posting 71 tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions and a sack. Afterwards, he transferred to New Mexico. In his first season there, he started 10 games and tallied 51 tackles, fifth-best on the team, and one interception, as well as 3.0 tackles-for-loss and a pass breakup. The following year, Reed made a career-high four interceptions in just seven games, only five of which he started. He additionally made seven pass breakups, being named first-team all-conference at the end of the season.

Reed led the team with 89 tackles while starting all 12 games in 2021, additionally tying for the lead in pass breakups with seven. He was an honorable mention all-conference choice. In 2022, he made a 94 tackles in 12 games and was named New Mexico's team MVP.