J.R. Reed embracing leadership role on Georgia’s defense, notes spring improvement of young DBs
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Considering all the veterans that were lost by Georgia this offseason, Kirby Smart expressed his concern regarding the leadership of his Bulldog team entering the spring. It appears his more experienced players were listening and have made a point to ease those concerns.
During his latest media availability, redshirt junior defensive back J.R. Reed touched on not only his attempts to step up and become one of the leaders of Georgia’s defense but the play of the young DBs on the roster and their improvement this spring.
“A lot of young guys are coming along, but they are all kinda even right now. We had the first scrimmage, and they all look about the same, so there’s still some competition going on. The second scrimmage should tell us a lot,” Reed said. “Who is really studying, who’s really putting in the work to get that spot.”
Reed admitted he isn’t the only one that has taken Smart’s concerns to heart. He noted several veterans have stepped up in order to lead by example and set the tone for Georgia’s talent, albeit young, roster.
“We just go out there and try to preach to these young guys that every day is like game day in the spring,” Reed continued. “You have to take every day serious, you have to do extra, you have to do more. More is not enough. You have to keep going and going until you really get it.”
Following his emergence last spring as a dependable player, he started all 15 games for the Bulldogs in 2017, Reed understands that it’s his duty to step up and become a leader if the team is going to approach last season’s success.
“I’m approaching this spring more as a leadership role because we have a lot of guys who are in the position I was in last year,” Reed concluded. “Mainly, I’m trying to lead the younger guys because there is a lot of competition in the secondary. How I take it is trying to be a captain and be a leader and help the young guys learn the playbook and learn what they have to do on the field.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
