Gators back-up QB Jordan Reed will switch to TE

By Adam Silverstein
February 3, 2010

Much of the following post was originally published on OGGOA on Oct. 22, 2009.

Behind [former] starting quarterback Tim Tebow and redshirt sophomore John Brantley is Jordan Reed, a four-star freshman who committed to the Florida Gators in August 2008. Knowing Brantley would be starting ahead of him for at least two seasons, Reed was expected to back him up while simultaneously learning the ins-and-outs of the position.

Head coach Urban Meyer first mentioned on Oct. 22 that Reed may be catching passes in the future instead of throwing them. In fact, numerous beat writers reported that Reed ran wide receiver and tight end routes during pre-game practice for the Arkansas Razorbacks game. At 6’3″ and 235 pounds with a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, Reed certainly has all of the physical attributes to succeed as a playmaker.

“[Reed’s] a very good athlete,” Meyer said back in October. “We have to find a way to get him on the field someday, and [he has] pretty good hands and can run. We’re experimenting right now. He’s still a quarterback.”

During his 2010 National Signing Day press conference, Meyer indicated that Reed’s position change is imminent. This allowed Florida the flexibility to recruit another passer.

“We feel like Jordan Reed is going to move to tight end,” Meyer said. “We wanted to look for a dual position player and found that in [three-star QB] Tyler Murphy.”

13 Comments

  1. ABigGatorsFan says:

    Any word on how Reed feels about this change? Doesn’t this change make the Gators extremely thin behind Brantley now? Is Reed a Cornelius Ingram type athlete?

  2. dp says:

    Is trey Burton any good? He doesn’t seem to be getting mentioned. So, do we have a back-up that isn’t a true freshman?

  3. Denver Gator says:

    Seems kind of strange since he was listed as the third string QB this year. The only other guy listed was a junior I have never heard of before. (Andrew Blaylock) I guess this means they are confident in Burton or Murphy playing next year. Having a TE that size with that speed would be fun to watch – as long as he can catch the ball.

  4. I’m sure he’s fine with the move. Most of these guys that are not top-rated QB prospects anticipate a change in position at some point or another.

    The QB roster will look like:

    John Brantley
    Trey Burton
    Tyler Murphy

    Brantley will start two years and a 2011 recruit will likely take his place.

  5. Don’t forget, Cornelius Ingram was a QB.

  6. Basshole says:

    Adam, you didn’t mention Blaylock, is he fourth string next year? He came in at the end of the FIU game (over Reed) so I would think he would be a little higher on the depth chart than these incoming freshmen.

  7. Drew 4 Orange and Blue says:

    We certainly have the need at TE but if Brantley gets hurt we will be putting in a frosh!!!!! At least Burton enrolled early…..let’s hope this kid is a quick learner!!

  8. Basshole-

    That was on purpose. While Blaylock is a part of the team, he is a walk-on who has only dressed five games in three years. He was put into the game because Reed was redshirted and for no other reason. If you were going to do a depth chart of the team, you wouldn’t even put him in there (same as you wouldn’t have put Sorrentino at WR last season).

  9. Wingtee says:

    What happens if brantley is one and done…. Uh oh!

  10. npgator says:

    I look forward to Jordan Reed playing TE since our former tight end (Hernandez) is from the same area. It wouldn’t surprise me if he started at that position next year.

  11. Drew 4 Orange and Blue says:

    Wingtee…that is exactly what I was thinking!!!!!

  12. Aligator says:

    okay, so who out there is at least the quality of brantley or leak so we will be steady at the position? is trey burton that good? is this other guy they picked up late going to be like Reed and Ingram and gt moved? why waste these scholarships??

  13. jlott says:

    i personally know jordan reed and hes a great athlete i think he will do extreamly well at tight end he has the speed and the hand to be very successful at the tight end position

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