2015 Prospect Profile: CB John Reid

Film and Ratings

Philadelphia, PA
St. Joseph's Prep
5'10", 175 lbs

Reid ranks 93rd in the 247 Composite. He will remain a four-star prospect for the entire cycle and possesses an offer sheet that is impressive and still growing.

Breakdown

Frame: B
Reid is by no means a big corner, but he has plenty enough size to play the position. Standing at 5'10", he's a well-built pass defender with average length. He isn't too far removed from a corner like Raymon Taylor when it comes to build.

Strength: B-
Reid isn't an overwhelming force for high school receivers, often using solid technique instead of sheer strength to beat young receivers; he has average strength for a corner his size. He's all clean weight and can add to his build at the next level through weight training, allowing him to deal with more physical receivers that BCS-level schools will recruit.

Explosiveness/Acceleration: B
Speed: B
Agility: B+
Once again, Reid grades out as merely average when it comes to explosion. He flashes fluid hips and the ability to change direction, but he's similar to Michigan's current corners because of his lack of elite recovery speed.

On-Field Awareness: A
Reid doesn't blow most corner prospects out of the water when it comes to physical attributes, making up for it by always knowing his place on the field. He reads quarterbacks well, blows up screens and leaves receivers when they've been eliminated from a play because of pressure or anything of the sort. His ability to diagnose plays is what makes him a top prospect.

Ball Skills: B+
This is also one of Reid's strengths. He has a natural ability to contort his body to get his hand into the path of the ball, and he isn't afraid to step up and snatch an errant pass in the air if given the opportunity. I don't see receiver-quality hands, but he does have good ball skills for a field corner.

Technique: A-
This is tough to read with such limited defensive tape, but Reid looks like a well-coached corner on the tape we have of him. His backpedal is smooth and wastes little motion, and he understands how to pin a receiver to his hip before finding and the ball in the air. He's also a solid tackler, making contact with the shoulder before wrapping up on most tackles.

Ceiling: B
Reid is a low-risk corner who doesn't have the elite physical tools needed to become a true lock-down cornerback. I like his combination of awareness and technique, but that only goes so far. He could come in and battle for the field corner spot somewhere down the line, or he could provide depth and take meaningful snaps at the nickel spot, where his solid build and sound tackling ability could be useful.

Recruitment

Reid's recruitment has yet to take off. Penn State and West Virginia are the only schools to have received visits from him so far, and he really liked what he($) saw in Happy Valley:

"I talked to them all," he said. "They were right when they said it was gonna be unlike anything I've ever seen."

Reid has been keeping a close eye on the Nittany Lions all season and said that the last few weeks have helped their cause.

"They beat a really good team in Michigan and they don't have all the scholarships that they will have in a couple years," he said. "Once they get those scholarships back, they are gonna be even better. That sort of thing does have an impact, but a lot of my decision will be based on academics and the school itself."

That's a very positive review of a school that has been in dire straits for some time now.

Reid's focus on academics will draw him toward the Big Ten. Penn State and Michigan have already offered and Ohio State could also come through with one.

Prognostication

It's very early in the process for Reid. Michigan does have somewhat of a connection with him: He is being actively recruited to Michigan by teammate Jon Runyan Jr., who is committed to the Wolverines. The combination of Greg Mattison, elite academics and an inside connection will be enough to keep Michigan in it for the long haul, but don't be surprised if Penn State, Ohio State or any other academic power wins this recruiting battle.