Photo courtesy of Athletic Communications

So who is this freshman from Lakeland, Tennessee?

Scouted by local schools such as Memphis University, UT-Martin and Central Arkansas, Reed decided on Lafayette because it offered him a scholarship and “the education [he] would be getting.”

That full scholarship made Reed a part of the first scholarship class in both Lafayette and Patriot League history.

Now, with a clear grasp on the starting quarterback role, Reed looks back to his first moments on College Hill.

“Coming into the season I didn’t have any expectations because I wasn’t the starter,” Reed said. “I didn’t have much to expect from myself. Mainly I just wanted to play.”

“I wasn’t surprised when I was named the starter last week because I thought I played well against Harvard.”

He earned the start after filling in for the struggling Andrew Dzurik ‘16 after halftime against Harvard two weekends ago. Since then, he’s thrown more touchdowns (7) than incompletions (6).

Reed hails from Arlington High School where he threw for 6,000-plus yards, 70 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in three years as quarterback. He collected All-Metro First-Team honors three times and was selected as the District Offensive Player of the Year.

His interest in football began because both his father and grandfather played football growing up and watched it around Reed when he was young. There was no other position choice for Reed – it was always quarterback.

“In high school, my friends called me D-Money… they said I was always money,” Reed said.

He certainly has been money thus far and appears comfortable and in rhythm with the offense. He claims the coaching staff is not doing much different in regards to the offensive scheme.

“We’ve mainly been doing the same stuff,” Reed said. “The receivers are just making a lot of plays and I’ve been able to get the ball to the running backs. We’ve made big plays when we needed them.”

Head Coach Frank Tavani testified to the strategy.

“It was pretty much the same game plan,” Tavani said.

Watered down or not, Reed will be counted upon the rest of the season.

“We want to win the rest of our games and a Patriot League Championship and make some noise in the playoffs,” Reed said. “I just want to play as best I can, stay healthy and win a lot of games. Hopefully we’ll get four Patriot League Championships.