Jaylen Reed shot out of a cannon. Reed followed the wide receiver in front of him from the line of scrimmage to the secondary, where he was more than a step ahead of his opponent en route to a pass breakup. That was the first play of Penn State’s 34-12 season-opening win at West Virginia. It was also his first at a new position. Reed’s big Saturday only continued from there.
Reed became an early problem for Mountaineers quarterback Garrett Greene. First came the pass breakup, then a fumble recovery and finally a face-to-face introduction. Due to a switch from safety to nickel corner — a position coined the “Lion” — Reed found himself in the backfield on West Virginia’s third drive, throwing Greene to the ground for a massive loss.
“I feel like now I’m just more comfortable, seeing the game different, you know? I feel like the game slowed down for me a lot. A lot of preparation that happened over this offseason,” Reed said postgame. “The new position I’m playing, back and forth from safety, it’s allowed me to make plays that I used to not be in a position to, so now I’m just making plays that come to me.”
Reed finished with a career-high nine tackles. He was the clear highlight of the defense on a day that the unit had many highlights. And if that’s any indication of things to come, the Nittany Lions should feel very good about Reed, star safety Kevin Winston Jr. and the rest of the secondary in the first year under defensive coordinator Tom Allen.
James Franklin feels good, that’s for sure. As Reed met with reporters following his career outing, Franklin walked up to him and gave him his praise. It was well deserved, and Reed smiled at the kind words from his head coach.
“You were flashing all over the field early in that game. It was impressive to watch,” Franklin told Reed. “You looked like you were running at a different speed than everybody else on the field. It was impressive.”
Reed was no match for the Mountaineers offense, and that’s because he truly was all over the field. And if he wasn’t in the targeted area, there was Winston, who also enjoyed one of the best games of his career — jam-packed with a team-high 12 tackles and a forced fumble. It’s clear to see why Winston garnered rave preseason reviews.
But it may be time to start discussing Reed in the same conversations. He, Winston and third starting safety Zakee Wheatley make up a dynamic trio that should give opposing offensive coordinators nightmares. Penn State’s safeties are quickly defining themselves as maybe the team’s strongest overall unit. And that’s saying something; this team is good.
“All offseason we talked about coming out this year and making this a great year, and showing everybody what we can do,” Winston said. “And, you know, we go to practice every day with that mindset.”
That’s the chip that almost every Nittany Lion has on their shoulder after missing out on the College Football Playoff with a qualified roster last season. The difference maker, of course, will come on the offensive side of the ball, with quarterback Drew Allar and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. But remaining one of the nation’s best defenses is almost just as important.
“I think we got a chance to be good on both sides of the ball. I think we got a chance to be more balanced on both sides of the ball,” Franklin said. “When I talk about balance, I’m talking about both being able to win on the defensive side of the ball and being able to win on the offensive side of the ball. And I thought there were examples of that today.”
There were never question marks about the safeties entering the season. They returned both starters, both of whom are two of the team’s most vocal leaders. But with the rest of the secondary, specifically the cornerbacks, there remains an uncertainty surrounding a room that lost three starters from last season and is now relying on two transfers to lead the way.
Reed is now just as much a cornerback as he is a safety. And he helped direct starting corners A.J. Harris and Jalen Kimber on Saturday. He’s also just as much a linebacker. Reed is a little bit of everything, and established himself as the glue guy of a defense that hopes to remain in the driver’s seat for a second consecutive season.
“I’m gonna run to the ball at all times,” Reed said. “I’m gonna give full effort.”
