Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Billy Reed exceeded his own expectations en route to becoming SIU’s top receiver
10/30/2016 | 1:51:00 | Football
Billy Reed came to Southern Illinois five years ago with no expectations for his football career. Five years later, he's leaving as one of the best receivers in school history.
"I had no idea what to expect," Reed said. "I didn't even know if I would be a good receiver. I just knew I was a good athlete who loved football. So to be here five years later as a team captain, it's been surreal."
Reed, the oldest of three boys of William and Debra Reed, was a four-sport start at Lockport Township High School in the Chicago suburbs. His first love was basketball, and he set a school record for stolen bases in baseball; but he set his collegiate sights on a football scholarship.
Reed starred as a dual threat quarterback for Lockport, throwing for more than 1,500 yards and running for 750 more. He started getting college letters as a junior and quickly became a MAC-level prospect, getting offered by former Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit.
Reed was recruited as an athlete. Some schools wanted him at safety, and some didn't know where they wanted to play him. Southern saw a potential starter at receiver, and Reed was sold.
"I had a good connection," Reed said. "I had a knee injury in high school, and Southern was with me the whole time. They were loyal. I could see myself going to school there. Now, it's been five years, and it was a great decision."
Outside of 7-on-7 football, Reed had never lined up at receiver on a football field. As a true freshman, that meant learning a new position and giving up his thought of being a two-sport athlete at SIU—Reed had considered running hurdles for the Saluki Track & Field team.
As a redshirt freshman, Reed earned playing time on special teams. He was playing behind MyCole Pruitt, LaSteven McKinney and Tay Willis, but still didn't know what to expect for the rest of his career. That changed with a heart-to-heart meeting with wide receivers coach Ashton Aikens.
"Coach Aikens sat me in his office, and it was right then when I started to get expectations for myself," Reed said. "He said, 'There's no reason why you can't be just as good as these guys.' He saw that I was raw, but he molded me into what I could be. I owe a lot of my success to Coach Aikens."
Reed started eight games alongside Pruitt, McKinney and Willis in 2014. After all three graduated that year, Reed became the receiving corps unquestioned leader and broke out for 56 catches and 805 yards last year. He earned an All-MVFC honor and a spot in the SIU record books for single-season receiving yards.
"That was just a product of working at my craft," he said. "Obviously, I got a lot of targets, and Mark (Iannotti) and I were on the same page."
Over the offseason, Southern's new coaching staff brought in a slew of new young receivers, but Reed has remained the unquestioned leader in the position room.
"That's where it hits you that you're getting older and on your way out of the program," Reed said. "It's been a lot of fun. I'm the old guy, the old leader in the room. It's been fun to teach them about college football."
Southern's depth has manifested itself in spread-out production from the receivers. Four receivers are averaging at least 45 yards per game and nine are averaging at least 15 yards per game. Reed leads the team with three touchdown catches, and one of eight receivers with a receiving touchdown this year.
"Coach Aikens sat me down again and said I might not get as many targets," Reed said. "But I really don't care how many times I get the ball. I just want to win games."
After his senior season is over, Reed has options on and off the football field. He graduated with a 3.9 GPA in May 2016 and earned first-team Academic All-MVFC last season. He has also been the target of NFL scouts at Saluki practices, and he will give professional football a shot after this year.
"If I don't have to get a real job yet, I'll give it a shot," Reed said. "Any opportunity to play football beyond this level would be great."
