Former North County star making 'seamless transition' to new home on the FB field

What has never been debatable has been the talent level on a football field that former North County High School standout Nolan Reed possessed. The only question was: Where exactly should he play to best utilize his talents?

For now, the Southeast Missouri State football coaching staff believes that Reed has found a good fit at tight end.

“The biggest thing, for me, was learning the plays,” Reed said of his new position. “That has been a challenge. And working in the weight room to get stronger.”

Reed was a phenomenal (and mobile) quarterback in high school. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 22 times as a senior with the Raiders. However, he spent his redshirt season at SEMO in 2022 as an outside linebacker.

Reed’s development ON the field began this week, as the Redhawks opened their spring practice, but one could argue that Reed has had the best off-season of anyone in the program.

“He has had a really good off-season,” 10th-year SEMO coach Tom Matukewicz said.

Reed came to Cape Girardeau 10 months ago weighing 207 pounds, but he stepped onto the practice field on Wednesday weighing 238 pounds, and that development has been all muscle.

“He has had a wonderful off-season,” SEMO Director of Sports Performance Ryan Napoli said of Reed. “He has elevated his game. He wants to compete for a (starting) position, and he works out with guys who push him.”

Not only did Reed make strides on the scale, but his strength improved immensely, as well.

He is now squatting 450 pounds and hit 300 pounds on the bench press. His clean and jerk lift is 265 pounds, and his vertical jump is over 30 inches.

“We have a lot of guys on this football team, who like to lift,” Napoli said, “and it is infectious, then you start to see the changes. I’m really excited for Nolan.”

Redhawk tight end coach Cole Cook knows Reed’s development will be a process, but there have been early signs that this project just might work.

“Nolan is the type of kid,” Cook explained, “he is a good football player. You could pretty much put him anywhere on the field and he is going to figure out how to be good at it.”

Reed’s athleticism has carried over from high school, and he ran a 4.87 in the 40-yard dash this winter.

“This has been a seamless transition,” Cook said of the position switch. “He has never done some of this stuff that tight ends do, but he is picking it up fast and he is physical, and he is coachable.

“It is easy to work with a guy, who wants to work hard and wants to get better.”