2022 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Michigan vs. Michigan State
Michigan State WR Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed, like Kenneth Walker III, is another dynamic skill player that transferred to Michigan State. Reed began his college career at Western Michigan but transferred after only one year in 2018. The Aurora, IL, native sat out 2019 due to NCAA transfer rules and had his Spartans debut last year where he led Michigan State in receptions. Reed was a high school teammate of current Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne and has shown great chemistry with him this season on the way to putting up some numbers that have 2022 NFL Draft scouts intrigued.
B1G WR Leaders in Yds Per Route Run:
— Al Karsten (@bigalfredosauce) October 26, 2021
4. Jayden Reed (MSU) - 3.04
7. Jalen Nailor (MSU) - 2.68
11. Daylen Baldwin (U-M) - 2.35
12. Tre Mosley (MSU) - 2.33
B1G WR Leaders in Missed Forced Tackles:
7. J. Nailor - 7
10. J. Reed - 6
13. T. Mosley - 5
18. Cornelius Johnson (U-M) - 4
At 6’0” 185, Jayden Reed’s game is based on quickness and explosiveness. He’s slippery with the ball in his hands and Michigan State has used him in a variety of ways, including bubble screens, deep passes on trick plays, and punt and kick returns. On eight punt returns this year, Jayden Reed is averaging 26.3 yards per punt return and has two touchdowns. He’s fourth in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 562, and 8th in the country at 20.8 yards per catch.
Teams have a hard time staying with him one on one, and he’s an incredibly dangerous deep threat. Due to the number of ways teams could use Jayden Reed, he has likely piqued the interest of 2022 NFL Draft scouts. The only thing he could improve upon is going over the middle. In the film I watched, almost all his catches were on passes to the outside, and due to his small build, the ability to line up in the slot and catch passes over the middle would make him much more versatile and attractive to NFL teams.