WR Reed finding his role with Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE -- For the first few games this season, Arkansas fans wondered when or if heavily hyped speedster Dominique Reed would start to catch on for the Razorbacks' receiving corps.

They've gotten their answer the past two games.

Reed, a Camden native who transferred to Arkansas from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, has taken passes on which he's been heading back to quarterback Brandon Allen or at a complete stop and converted them quickly into long-play touchdowns.

The 6-3, 180-pound junior sprinted by several Tennessee defenders for most of a 33-yard touchdown in Arkansas' 24-20 victory at Neyland Stadium three weeks ago. One week later at Alabama, Reed shook free from Marlon Humphrey on a broken-down pass play, made a defender miss, then held on through heavy contact inside the 5 to score on a 54-yard play during a 27-14 loss.

"I feel if I have the opportunity to have the ball in my hands, I can turn it into something, a touchdown or a big play or whatever," Reed said.

He had season highs of three catches and 77 receiving yards in the Hogs' loss at Alabama, perhaps signaling big days are ahead for Reed in the injury-riddled Arkansas receiving unit.

"One of these games coming up, he's going to light it up," Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "He's going to have a great game and we're going to go, 'Where did that come from?' and it's not going to surprise anybody here.

"He's ready to break out, and he looks more and more comfortable every day."

Reed had no catches the first three games, though he was targeted deep a couple of times in the season opener against Texas-El Paso. But he's had six receptions in the Razorbacks' three SEC games.

"I really hit Dan up on ... I think he [Reed] can be a big part if you kind of give him certain things he can do," Coach Bret Bielema said. "He definitely does have speed. He has some things on crossing routes.

"And what we've witnessed now for a couple of games in a row is when he's got the ball in his hands, he can make something happen."

Reed's 19.8 yards-per-catch average ranks second on the team to the injured Jared Cornelius, who averages 21.4 yards per catch.

"He's really understanding a lot better now and he's getting himself open," Allen said. "I think just with the confidence he has and understanding where to line up and what to run is giving him more confidence to be getting himself open."

Arkansas took a chance by signing Reed, who also had scholarship offers from Auburn, Florida, Louisville, Oklahoma and Texas, because he had work to do over the summer to qualify academically. If Reed hadn't been eligible, the Razorbacks would have lost the scholarship given to him.

Reed impressed quarterback Brandon Allen in midsummer workouts after his arrival, with Allen saying Reed was so fast it was almost impossible to overthrow him. Then Allen threw two deep balls intended for Reed in the opener and both landed beyond his reach.

Reed had to learn the playbook, watch more film and grasp how nuances in his route running could impact the structure and timing of plays.

"At first, I was kind of down on myself because I wasn't here at first to really get used to the playbook," Reed said. "But I started watching film and people were helping me out and it really went pretty good."

Receivers coach Michael Smith said a few weeks ago that Reed's "free styling" with routes made it so Allen couldn't be certain if he'd been on his mark from play to play. That trust factor is improving.

"It's funny. When we brought him in we were trying to put a package together for him, and statements were made that we need him to kind of come into his own by Week 6," Smith said last week. "The last two weeks he's done some good things to put himself in that position just the way we thought he would. But he's got a lot to learn. He's still learning how to play at this level."

Smith pointed out that the counter-point to Reed's creative touchdown play against Alabama came earlier, when he drifted on a route that ended up in Allen's interception over the middle by Eddie Jackson, leading to a Crimson Tide field goal.

Reed's speed and ability to break open a routine catch make him a key element of game planning the rest of the season.

"We're going to try to put a package in for any of our guys that will help the team, and getting Dominique the ball will help the team," Smith said. "What will help him is getting him doing what he does best. A lot of people know that he can run so we've got to do some things to get the ball in his hands."

Reed's emergence has forced opposing defenses to do more than stop lead wideout Drew Morgan and tight ends Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle.

Morgan, whose team at Greenwood High School was a big playoff rival against Reed's Camden Fairview teams, helped push Reed the final couple of yards to the end zone against the Crimson Tide.

"After I made the first person miss, I just felt [a defender] grab, and Drew really helped me out," Reed said. "I appreciate Drew on that."

Reed said he understands the Razorbacks are trying to help him unleash his greatest gift: speed.

"On those short passes I've been getting I show my speed a little bit, but the real breakaway I feel is coming pretty soon."

Sports on 10/20/2015