Kansas State Football: D.J. Reed taking his talents to San Francisco

Kansas State Football cornerback DJ Reed is selected by the 49ers in the 5th round to help the defensive backfield and return game. The ceiling is high for Reed as a special teams guy. 

DJ Reed had to wait until the third day of the NFL draft to hear his name called as the San Francisco 49ers selected the Kansas State junior with the 142nd overall pick.  The California native will be headed back to his home state to start his NFL career.

Reed will be expected to compete for the nickel cornerback job as well as provide help to a  kick return squad that ranked second-to-last in 2017. Reed averaged 34 yards/return in 2017 and 14.9 yards on punt returns.

He is a solid corner but with his size projects as a nickel or slot in the NFL. Reed recorded 47 tackles, with nine passes broken up and four interceptions. He was selected first-team All-Big 12 in 2017.

Reed should jump in immediately as the 49ers’ return guy. This is good news for him. No matter where he stands on the depth chart as far as cornerback is concerned he should see job security on special teams.

He is a quintessential Bill Snyder type of player. Reed won the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year award in 2016, as well as making the All-Big 12 First Team in 2016. In 2017 he missed a few games to injury but remained a top corner in college football.

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What Reed brings to the 49ers is obviously his ability to compete in the secondary, but he lit it up as a kick and punt returner in college. Any time Reed was fielding a return, Wildcat fans knew he had a chance to take it to the house.

Per NFL.com,

"Future slot corner who has the athleticism to handle mirror and match coverage and the toughness to step up and take on tackle responsibilities. Reed lacks size, but not heart. He’s passionate and confident and outplays his height on a consistent basis. Reed’s talent as a return specialist could gain him instant opportunities and his work won’t hurt his cause."

Reed will be missed by the K-State faithful, but he should have a lengthy career in the pros. He provides both great secondary play and is yet another dominant K-State return man, which will surely make him a household name in the years to come.

As for the 49ers, they are on the up and on when it comes to their NFL future. They could very well compete for a playoff spot this year and Reed has a chance to be a part of a early with San Francisco.

Best of luck to D.J. Reed in San Francisco and hopefully he can be yet another Kansas State Wildcat who makes a name for himself in the pros. With this pick, the Wildcats have now had a player drafted for 26 straight years. That’s impressive!

Good luck D.J. Reed! What do you think of this pick, K-State fans? Do you think Reed will fit in with the 49ers defensive scheme?