When Hutchinson (KS) CC offensive lineman J’Onre Reed was on his official visit to Syracuse, he attended several practices, and one player in particular caught his eye—freshman running back LeQuint Allen.
While Reed has seen plenty of talented players during his time as a high schooler at Eisenhower (TX) High and in the NJCAA, he had never seen one with the raw ability of Allen.
“He sold it for me,” Reed said in an interview with The Juice Online. “Just watching him in practice, he stood out to me. I’d like to give him a couple 1,000-yard seasons. I’d have fun doing that.”
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DA UNIVERSITY OF SYRACUSE @Commit2Cuse @CoachBabersCuse @CoachM_Schmidt @CoachAhmadCuse @JrLequint LETS ROCC OUT ♂️ #cuse #juicedup #DUMB #ME #HUTCHFACTORY @JuCoFootballACE @CoachSerchia @BlueDragonsFB @CoachDrewDallas pic.twitter.com/x7Zwj5moLO
— (@GoGettaReed) December 18, 2022
Shortly after Reed arrived back in Houston following his visit on Sunday, he announced he was committing to the Orange, selecting SU over offers from Oregon, New Mexico, Coastal Carolina, UAB and UNLV, among other schools.
“(Syracuse has an) amazing fan base, amazing coaches,” Reed said. “I’m very family oriented, and coach (Dino) Babers is building a family, ‘Ohana.”
The 6-foot-4, 325 pound offensive lineman developed a reputation as a leader at Hutchinson, earning the nickname ‘The General.’ The Blue Dragons’ offensive line called themselves the Navy, and while there were nicknames like ‘The Grandpa’ and ‘The Hothead,’ there was only one General.
Reed credits his mother for giving him his work ethic and also his leadership qualities.
“I never got outworked by nobody,” Reed said. “That’s how I earned my team’s respect. When I step between the four white lines, I understand the privilege football brings and what it takes to succeed and to push ahead. I’m willing to give you my body. I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good.”
In just the few practices Reed saw, he memorized the majority of the playbook and the blocking schemes.
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That impressed Syracuse offensive line coach Mike Schmidt, who was Reed’s primary recruiter.
“He knows what I’m capable of doing,” Reed said. “I just want to get the best coaching I can get. I think I chose where I can do that at the highest level.”
He will have an opportunity to do that with three other incoming offensive linemen: Pennsylvania’s Vincent Carroll-Jackson and Richmond graduate transfer Joe More, who both committed last weekend, and Massachusetts’ Jayden Bass.
Reed will enroll immediately and be on the Syracuse campus in spring.
“I just want to be great,” Reed said. “I want to be known when I leave Syracuse. When I say I played at Syracuse, I don’t want people to say, ‘Oh when?’ No. (They’ll say) ‘We know who you are.’ I want to be a known Syracuse player.”
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