Courtney Hawkins knows the road Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed is on.
Hawkins, a wide receiver for the Spartans from 1988 to 1991, played in the NFL for nine years. He then joined Mel Tucker’s coaching staff before the 2020 season.
Earlier this offseason, Hawkins asked Reed a question. Was Reed ready to switch numbers and live up to the standard that comes with wearing No. 1 at Michigan State?
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“I look forward to playing my tail off every game and working hard every practice to honor them,” Reed said of Andre Rison and Charles Rogers, among others. “All the history behind it and the people that wore the number were great players.
“So, I just felt like I have something to prove.”
When Michigan State opens the season on Friday, Sept. 3 against Northwestern, Reed will be the first player to wear No. 1 for the Spartans since Rogers from 2001 through 2002.
Reed, a Metea Valley and Naperville Central product, caught 33 passes last season for 407 yards and three touchdowns. It was his first playing for Michigan State.
A freshman All-American in his only season with Western Michigan, Reed said his decision to transfer to Michigan State and play in the Big Ten was an easy one.
And personal.
Reed’s close friends Payton Thorne and Cade McDonald, both of whom also prepped at Naperville Central, were already on Michigan State’s football team.
Malik Hall, another close friend who spent his first two years of high school at Metea Valley in Aurora, plays basketball for the Spartans and coach Tom Izzo.
Hawkins is Michigan State’s receivers coach. From the very first conversation he had with his future No. 1, he could tell Reed was sincerely motivated.
“Just the competitive side, it almost kind of was like it was eating him alive that he couldn’t play,” Hawkins said of Reed, who sat out his first year at Michigan State due to NCAA transfer rules. “So, he was one of the easiest guys in the room to coach.
“And he’s obviously got some leadership skills. A lot of the young guys kind of begin to follow his lead, and he’s not going to let anybody outwork him.”
Thorne’s presence and familiarity with Reed and McDonald immediately became apparent to Hawkins.
“There are some times in practice where the ball should probably go to a different receiver according to the read,” Hawkins said. “But those particular three guys have a connection, and somehow the ball ends up either in Cade’s hands or in J-Reed’s hands.
“And whether it’s the wrong read or the right read, 90% of the time it’s a completion.”
For Reed, now it’s about proving he’s much more than those limited scholarship offers he received after graduating from Naperville Central.
“I wasn’t a high recruit,” he said. “When I got to Western Michigan, I was fourth on the depth chart. I had to work my way up. I didn’t start with the team until Aug. 3 (2018) for fall camp. So I had to quickly learn the plays and stuff like that. I’ve never started off a spotlight player.
“When I got here, I just kept the same mentality. I got to work for what I want. That’s the only way I’m going to get to where I want to be. I kept that mindset — I got to work harder than everybody else and push myself to the limit. And really there’s no limit, honestly.”
Reed feels he has become stronger physically since last season. Hawkins has worked with him on running routes, timing routes and trusting his footing.
Thorne, who’s competing with Temple transfer Anthony Russo for the starting quarterback job, understands exactly what Reed can do.
“He is a special talent with what he brings to the table with his speed and his shake,” Thorne said of Reed. “He’s got a bright future ahead of him, and we all know that. I think he knows that as well.”
Blake Baumgartner is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.