Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: S Jerrick Reed II - Versatile Thumper

Overlooked in the recruiting and pre-draft process coming out of high school and college ranks, Jerrick Reed II has generated unusual buzz as a sixth-round pick for the Seattle Seahawks, but now he faces stiff competition for reps in a crowded secondary.

Corbin K. Smith | Jun 26, 2023

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities wrapping up league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Jerrick Reed II, Safety

Height/Weight: 5-10, 196 pounds

2022 Stats*: 94 tackles, one interception, 10 pass breakups

*College stats at New Mexico

Lightly recruited despite earning All-State honors in Mississippi, Reed didn't receive a single Division I or Division II scholarship, leading to him enrolling at Northwest Mississippi Community College. After one season at the JUCO level, he received a scholarship offer from New Mexico and took his talents to Albuquerque, immediately becoming a starter with 51 tackles and three tackles for loss. He followed up with a First-Team All-Mountain West selection for the Lobos, picking off a team-high three passes and posting 33 tackles.

Finishing his college career on a strong note, Reed hit double-digit pass breakups, but he didn't receive any invites to pre-draft all-star showcases or the NFL combine. Despite a productive college career and impressive pro day performance, he only made two official visits, but one of them was to meet with the Seahawks, who selected him in the sixth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Best-Case Scenario: Hitting the ground running amid a deep position group, Reed sees snaps at free safety and slot cornerback along with playing on most of Seattle's special teams units during the preseason and performs well compared to his competition, proving himself as a reliable tackler and earning himself a role as a reserve defensive back.

Worst-Case Scenario: With few reps left to go around after the signing of Julian Love and return of Jamal Adams from injury, Reed can't create separation against incumbent special teams ace Joey Blount and undrafted rookie Jonathan Sutherland for a backup role, leading to his release and return as a member of the practice squad.

What to Expect in 2023: Since being drafted late on day three, Reed has received consistent praise from coach Pete Carroll among others for his physicality, athleticism, and football IQ. Though he went under the radar during the pre-draft process, his ability to play at a high level at both safety spots as well as nickel cornerback will serve him well battling for snaps at arguably the deepest position group on Seattle's entire roster. In time, he could be a potential successor for Adams or Quandre Diggs in the secondary.

However, in the present, with Adams, Diggs, and Love all expected to play extensive snaps together in Seattle's defense, Reed will have to cut his teeth on special teams to earn his keep vying for playing time against the likes of Blount and Sutherland. Given his athleticism and positional flexibility, he should be viewed as a strong candidate to win one of the final roster spots and in time, if he develops as hoped, he could have a much more significant role waiting for him on defense in the future.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles

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Published Jun 26, 2023

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.