A Name to Know – Austin Reed, QB, Western Kentucky

First Round Mock’s William Yanish with a surprise big grade on Western Kentucky quarterback (QB) Austin Reed.

Every time I hear “Air-Raid”, the song “Soldiers” by Drowning Pool starts cycling through my head. I’m sitting here listening to it right now.

The Air-Raid offense is nothing new to football. Names start flying through my mind from days past. Hal Mumme of Valdosta State fame, TCU’s Sonny Dykes, and the late great Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers implemented a version of it in 2021.

Isn’t that fun to say? Hilltoppers.

The first to run it was one of my most recent favorite QBs, the New England Patriots’ own Bailey Zappe (my QB2 of the 2022 NFL Draft).

I was recently alerted to their new starting QB, Austin Reed who plays there. A 6-foot-2, 220-pound specimen of a man.

Background

This is a QB that when you sit down to watch him, you just have to say wow. This is a man that will sit back in full control of his offense and hit nine different targets in the matchup versus Troy.

In 2019, he led West Florida to a Division II National Championship.

In 2022, Reed led the nation in passing yardage (4,744 yards) and his team averaged 36.3 points per game.

This is only the beginning.

The Yanish Report

Thick, tall, football-built player. Footwork with rhythm and timing. Fast-paced, uptempo to the MAX. Navigates the pocket standing tall. Handles play action and RPO’s (run-pass option) like an insurance salesman. Long, powerful release. Ball comes out quickly. Can flat-out RIP IT. Drives throws, stepping into them. Gunslinger. Not afraid to throw into coverage. Will stare down receivers. NFL-caliber arm. Accurate at all levels. Ball placement needs to improve to not sell out receivers. Bulls his way to first downs on QB sneaks. Next-level vision. Takes advantage of knowing where everyone is on the field. Wunderkind football IQ. Poised leader.

For the win

In one year at Western Kentucky, he put himself on the map. In his second season, he can set the nation on fire. This is a kid that I have never heard of before today. By the time tomorrow comes I can say that I told you so.

The 2024 QB draft class is one that only comes around once in a great while. Maybe it’s the next big-time class, like 1983.

Dare I say, it could be better.

Let’s just get down to this… I already have more QBs with first-round grades than I have in the past three years, combined.

Is Reed the next QB that’ll cross that plane? Hell yeah.

My BIG three questions

1. Will withdrawing from the transfer portal and returning to Western Kentucky be the right choice?

2. Can he showcase some evolution in 2023?

3. Will he cut down on the turnovers and show more ball security this year?

How Reed stacks up and game film reviewed

My 2024 NFL Draft Value: First-Round, Baby!

2022 Game Film Evidence (Jersey No. 16)

Austin Peay

Indiana

Florida Atlantic

Troy

South Alabama

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.