4-Star JUCO DT Jarran Reed and Ex-Florida Signee Commits to Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide continue to stockpile talent in the nation's most prolific 2014 recruiting class. They picked up a commitment from 4-star junior college prospect Jarran Reed on Wednesday morning.
The defensive tackle announced his intentions on Twitter. He becomes the 24th member of Nick Saban's latest recruiting haul.
The 6'4", 310-pound product of Goldsboro High School (N.C.) spent the past two seasons playing for East Mississippi Community College at the JUCO level. Although he now appears headed to Tuscaloosa, Reed has a history of flirtations with several BCS programs.
He committed to the UNC Tar Heels in June 2012; however, Reed backed out of that verbal pact five months later.
Ole Miss landed a commitment from him in December 2012, but that relationship didn't last long, either. Reed decommitted from the Rebels in early February and signed with the Florida Gators as part of the team's 2013 recruiting class.
He was unable to qualify academically at Florida and returned to East Mississippi CC for his sophomore season. Reed emerged as a disruptive force this year, tallying 60 tackles and 3.5 sacks through 11 contests, according to 247Sports (subscription required).
He is rated the nation's No. 5 JUCO defensive tackle and No. 21 overall JUCO prospect in 247Sports composite rankings. His offers include the Nebraska Cornhusker, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi State Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers.
After a long-and-winding recruiting process, Reed seems set on Alabama.
"I'm done, this is final," he told 247Sports writer Charles Power (subscription required). "I'm committed to the Tide. It's great. It's a relief off of everything."
Nick Saban has assembled the nation's top-ranked recruiting class. Reed is Alabama's third 4-star defensive tackle pledge, joining Josh Frazier (Springdale, Ark.) and Johnny Dwight (Rochelle, Ga.).
