Georgia senior defensive back J.R. Reed is in the running for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound Reed, who is a graduate of Frisco Prestonwood Christian, has amassed 34 total stops and three pass deflections so far this season to become one of 14 semifinalists for the accolade awarded to the nation’s top defensive back. Having started all seven games of the season as of press time, he is also on the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.
Reed came to Athens by way of Tulsa University, where he chipped in five tackles and a pass breakup as a freshman in 2015. He sat out the 2016 season after joining the Bulldogs and has become one of Georgia’s prime defensive weapons.
At Prestonwood Christian, Reed was the only two-way starter as a senior under head coach Chris Cunningham. The son of former NFL player Jake Reed, he earned his undergraduate degree last year.
