Speed definitely does kill…

At the moment, he’s one of the most astonishing and unpredictable players on the field for the Hogs. One second he’s there, the next he’s gone. Dominique Reed has proven to be a key asset for the Arkansas offense. Immediately he has made an impact, recording 6 touchdowns in just 7 games that he’s played. He’s a difference maker, and our offense is slowly starting to revolve around the speedster.

Raised in Camden, Arkansas, Reed was just a two star prospect coming out of high school. Although he wasn’t highly recruited in the beginning, he finished his senior year of at Camden Fairview with 26 touchdowns and over 2,000 yards receiving. With academic challenges looming over him, he chose to take his talents to a community college in Kansas by the name of Coffeyville. Just like when he arrived at Fayetteville, Reed was quickly lighting it up with his first touches. As a Freshman, he led the team with 10 touchdowns and 816 receiving yards. Also, if you Hog fans would like to know, the starting quarterback at Coffeyville during Reed’s freshman year was future Arkansas TE A.J. Derby. So yeah, you can thank him for Reed’s success.

After using his redshirt for the 2013 season, Reed returned to the field for Coffeyville C.C. in 2014. He became another force to be reckoned with, leading the team yet again in receptions (61) and receiving yards (1,157). It was then that Dominique was being looked at by colleges all over the place. After just being a two star in high school, Reed was now a 4 star receiver prospect on 247Sports and ESPN. Other schools saw his as that player that filled the “need for speed” factor that many offenses lust after. After visits to Arkansas, Arizona State, Texas and Auburn, Reed finally made his (wise) choice. Becoming an Arkansas Razorback.

The road didn’t stop there for Dominique. After signing with the Hogs, Reed’s popularity grew, and by the time the season came around the hype surrounding him huge. In the 2015 season opener against the UTEP Miners, Reed wasn’t really a factor. This was due to his lack of experience as a Razorback and the lack of playbook knowledge. The only notable play had was Brandon Allen overthrowing him down the sidelines before the end of the first half, sadly confirming the fact that you can actually overthrow Dominique Reed.

After being suspended for the first half against Toledo, Reed was virtually invisible throughout the next two games. But after the injuries of Keon Hatcher, Cody Hollister and Jared Cornelius over the span of a few weeks, Reed was forcibly (and thankfully) thrown into the mix. Against Tennessee, Reed finally struck gold as he ran his way for a 33 yard touchdown, his first as a Razorback. Dominique would continue to make some flashy plays, leading the team with 77 yards receiving and a score vs Alabama.

Reed was showing flashes of athleticism that Arkansas hasn’t seen at receiver in several years. But he was still learning the plays, and would disappear for whole quarters. Both of his touchdowns came on plays where Allen had to scramble and create a play, not on designed routes.

Reed apparently spent his entire BYE week with a playbook in his hand, because he’s been playing lights out over these last 3 games. He’s recorded 4 touchdowns and 259 yards in his last three games, making him the most explosive playmaker that this team has to offer. His speed is undeniable, as he can outrun even the best SEC defensive units. There’s no doubt that we will take advantage of Reed as often as we can. Because with a playmaker like him, we can win games. Reed has the type of ability that forces defenses to respect his speed. He provides an entirely new element to the Hogs offense, and because he didn’t show it until the middle of the season, coordinators are not sure how to contain him.

With all the accomplishments Reed has had, we’re glad he ended up at Arkansas. It’s not often do you see a player with the unique talent that he has suit up in a Razorback uniform. I’m ready to see what he can pull out in these last two regular season games. Will he blow our minds once again this Saturday in Fayetteville?