n.e.husker
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Sophomore Reed bulks up to step up
Kyler Reed probably won't be ready to be a Food Network star anytime soon, but he got pretty good in the kitchen and on the grill this summer.
He had to eat a lot and the right food in hopes of gaining weight that will help him hold his own as a tight end for the Nebraska football team. Reed loves to grill, but also got good at making chicken, pasta and vegetables this summer when the Husker training table was closed.
Through weight training and good eating, Reed gained about 10 pounds. Now weighing about 240, Reed is still undersized, but that extra weight gives him confidence that he doesn't go to the line thinking about how big the defender across from him is.
It's a good thing Reed is one of many Huskers brimming with confidence this fall. The tight end position was once thought to be one of Nebraska's deepest and most veteran groups, but with Mike McNeill moving to wide receiver and Dreu Young possibly out for the year with a back injury, Reed will be called on to produce in a big way this season. Junior Ryan Hill has worked in a tight end/fullback role during fall camp.
Through offseason conversations with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and tight ends coach Ron Brown, Reed was prepared for a bigger role. Now that figures to be certain.
"We have to step up, Ben Cotton and I and Mychael McClure and Ryan Hill," Reed said. "We realize we just lost a senior leader. We got to grow up real fast."
While working with the top unit in fall camp has helped, Reed's big shot of confidence came in the spring, after a redshirt freshman season in which he played in 11 games and had six receptions for 54 yards. Reed said he was able to stay healthy last spring, unlike last season, had a better grasp of the offense and made plays.
He's also learned that to play tight end for Coach Brown, you have to be a great blocker.
"You have to have that mind-set that you want to get downfield and block for the running back," Reed said.
Reed has noticed the difference that a healthy offensive line and another year of experience for Cotton and himself have made this fall. Reed's goal is to be more physical.
"We've been running the ball really well this camp against a good defense, so I think the run is actually going to open up the pass this year," Reed said. "We're probably going to be run-first team."
The Shawnee, Kan., native is excited about this week's opener against Western Kentucky, but won't put too much pressure on himself.
"I just want to come out and make a few catches and get rid of the first-game jitters," Reed said. "I'm not worried about making huge plays, but I think it will come."
http://huskerextra.com/sports/football/article_6251a33c-b300-11df-bc1c-001cc4c002e0.html
I have always been a fan of Kylers, he has great speed for his position and could be a match up problem for opposing Ds, time for him to get more physical.
Kyler Reed probably won't be ready to be a Food Network star anytime soon, but he got pretty good in the kitchen and on the grill this summer.
He had to eat a lot and the right food in hopes of gaining weight that will help him hold his own as a tight end for the Nebraska football team. Reed loves to grill, but also got good at making chicken, pasta and vegetables this summer when the Husker training table was closed.
Through weight training and good eating, Reed gained about 10 pounds. Now weighing about 240, Reed is still undersized, but that extra weight gives him confidence that he doesn't go to the line thinking about how big the defender across from him is.
It's a good thing Reed is one of many Huskers brimming with confidence this fall. The tight end position was once thought to be one of Nebraska's deepest and most veteran groups, but with Mike McNeill moving to wide receiver and Dreu Young possibly out for the year with a back injury, Reed will be called on to produce in a big way this season. Junior Ryan Hill has worked in a tight end/fullback role during fall camp.
Through offseason conversations with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and tight ends coach Ron Brown, Reed was prepared for a bigger role. Now that figures to be certain.
"We have to step up, Ben Cotton and I and Mychael McClure and Ryan Hill," Reed said. "We realize we just lost a senior leader. We got to grow up real fast."
While working with the top unit in fall camp has helped, Reed's big shot of confidence came in the spring, after a redshirt freshman season in which he played in 11 games and had six receptions for 54 yards. Reed said he was able to stay healthy last spring, unlike last season, had a better grasp of the offense and made plays.
He's also learned that to play tight end for Coach Brown, you have to be a great blocker.
"You have to have that mind-set that you want to get downfield and block for the running back," Reed said.
Reed has noticed the difference that a healthy offensive line and another year of experience for Cotton and himself have made this fall. Reed's goal is to be more physical.
"We've been running the ball really well this camp against a good defense, so I think the run is actually going to open up the pass this year," Reed said. "We're probably going to be run-first team."
The Shawnee, Kan., native is excited about this week's opener against Western Kentucky, but won't put too much pressure on himself.
"I just want to come out and make a few catches and get rid of the first-game jitters," Reed said. "I'm not worried about making huge plays, but I think it will come."
http://huskerextra.com/sports/football/article_6251a33c-b300-11df-bc1c-001cc4c002e0.html
I have always been a fan of Kylers, he has great speed for his position and could be a match up problem for opposing Ds, time for him to get more physical.