Austin Reed prides himself on his intellectual approach to the game, and he showed why against a Power Five opponent in 2022.
Reed displayed no fear when taking on Indiana that season when he threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, adding another score on the ground, with one interception on 33-of-43 passing.
A play early in the game encapsulates the quarterback Reed can be. The Western Kentucky quarterback handled a shotgun snap as the Conference USA program trailed Indiana 3-0 in the first quarter in 2022. And within two seconds, he recognized a blitz, dissected Indiana’s defense, and delivered a precise throw.
And he didn’t play it safe, either. Hilltoppers tight end Joey Beljan ran up the middle of the field between two split safeties as Reed had little time in the pocket. He floated a pass over the hand of a defensive back, and Beljan did the rest for a 26-yard touchdown.
His ability to process and make decisions instantly will surely help him as a pro.
“Just the mental aspect of the National Football League and complete knowledge of an offense and knowing everything that comes with being in an NFL offense and being a starting quarterback is something that’s obviously a big challenge for NFL quarterbacks moving up,” Reed said at the NFL Combine. “(I’m) eager to learn whether it’s a veteran quarterback, offensive coordinator, QB coach, all that stuff. I’m really eager to get to the league and learn that and take the time to learn an NFL offense and learn all the responsibilities of being the guy in an NFL offense.”
Austin Reed Draft Projection
I project Reed will be drafted in the sixth round. Teams looking for a developmental quarterback to sit behind an established starter, like the Detroit Lions or the Atlanta Falcons, would make sense.
I could see Reed going as early as the fifth round or as late as the seventh, or even him becoming an undrafted free agent. But I think teams will value his skill set.
He’s shown he understands the game on a deep level, he’s athletic enough, and he has a good arm. Some NFL team will surely value that.
What Was Austin Reed’s 40 Time?
Reed ran the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds, which was third among quarterbacks at the NFL Combine. That was the only measurable drill the 6-foot-2, 220-pound QB participated in at the combine.
Austin Reed’s Stats And Highlights
Reed gained notoriety when he was the FBS passing leader in 2022, totalling 4,744 yards through the air. As an All-CUSA second-teamer, he threw for 40 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
In 2023, he threw for 3,340 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks. He completed 63% of his throws in two years at WKU.
Before becoming a Hilltopper, Reed played at Division II West Florida, where he won a national championship after throwing for 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2019. That was in the wake of a short stint at Southern Illinois of the FCS.
Reed is thankful for his journey, including the failures. He feels that will better prepare him for the challenges to come in the NFL.
“I think you just have to have mental fortitude. I know a lot of guys that have had the journey I’ve had would have gave up a long time ago and wouldn’t be right here,” Reed said. “So I feel like the guys who make it are the guys who are adaptable and have that mental fortitude to make it through the tough stuff, and that’s something I feel like I’ve done in my career.”
Austin Reed’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Reed’s playing style in the NFL will be similar to Brock Purdy. And that’s not just because he might be a late-round pick.
Reed played with a wide receiver at WKU similar to Deebo Samuel of the 49ers – Malachi Corley – and the result was often similar. Reed was accurate and on time with short-to-intermediate throws, which allowed for the Hilltoppers offense to thrive.
While Reed played in an Air Raid-style system at Western Kentucky, he stressed the importance of being adaptable for any scheme.
“You just have to know your reads,” Reed said. “You have to know the offense. You have to know your job and that system, play within the system, do what the coaches are asking you to do in terms of reads and your responsibility.”
Reed has a strong arm, as many of his best throws were outside of the hashes. But he’s also capable of putting touch on throws when he needs to.
Reed has a quick release, which especially helps with his short passing and when he’s under pressure. He usually can recognize blitzes and defensive schemes, so he often knows where needs to go with the ball as he doesn’t force throws often.
According to Pro Football Focus, the percentage of pressures turned into sacks against Reed was 5.7%. That was the third-lowest in the FBS among quarterbacks with at least 123 dropbacks. His average time to throw was 2.43 seconds, which was the ninth-lowest.
He’s also fast enough to evade pressure. WKU called up designed runs for him often, and not that an NFL team would do that, but it highlights how much he can do with his legs.
Reed, as is the case with many quarterbacks, could improve his accuracy on throws 10-plus yards from the line of scrimmage. He was 23 of 74 on such throws in 2023.
The Hilltoppers didn’t ask him to throw deep often, as his average depth of target was just 8 yards.
But overall, Reed feels ready for the NFL after working with WKU head coach Tyson Helton.
“I felt Coach Helton developed me while I was there and prepared me for the National Football League in my time there,” Reed said, “not only just putting up a lot of production but truly understanding defenses and having that full autonomy to check at the line to any kind of play meant I had that knowledge of the game and the defenses we were facing. So just having to be prepared in that aspect is really going to help at the next level.”
