Jordan HammLinebacker Malik Reed is looking to build off a strong junior season where he posted 42 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks with the Chandler Wolves.
The 6’1″, 220-pound linebacker is working on his fluidity and pass-coverage this offseason, as well as leading the defense along with fellow linebacker Tate Romney.
“We’ve been getting on the defense about running to the ball, just hustling and being physical,” Reed said. “We knew we would have to take a leadership role. We’ve done a great job getting on everyone about running to the ball and doing the right things.”
Currently, Reed holds offers from Arizona, Indiana, Wisconsin, Yale, Washington State, UCLA, Nebraska, Colorado, Oregon State and Purdue. He said many programs see him as an inside linebacker, and he’s been working to transition to that position this offseason.
“Almost all my offers are for inside linebacker so that’s why I’ve been playing inside the past couple weeks of spring ball, and I’ve been doing really well,” Reed said. “I think I’ve picked it up pretty fast. It was an easy transition.”
Among some of the programs jumping out to him are UCLA, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Arizona and Washington State. The Bruins were the first program to get an official visit, Reed’s third time visiting UCLA.
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“This trip was different because I got to really interact with the players and really see what it would be like going to UCLA,” Reed said. “I also got to take my whole family with me so that made a big difference. They all really like UCLA now. Me and my family got to spend a lot of 1-on-1 time with the staff and we all really like the staff.”
The Bruins “set the bar” with their visit.
“Now I have something that I can compare all my other visits to,” Reed said. “Being my first official I was really blown away.”
The linebacker also visited Nebraska unofficially for their spring game in April. The Cornhuskers did a phenomenal job recruiting Arizona last recruiting cycle, earning commitments from Higley’s Ty Robinson, Williams Field’s Noa Pola-Gates and Hamilton’s Javin Wright. Arizona was well-represented at the spring game as well featuring recruits like Reed and Chaparral’s Tommy Christakos.
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“They really like Arizona players and they’re going to recruit Arizona players,” Reed said.
“The fans there are crazy. The showed up in the spring game with 85,000 and I really like Scott Frost. It seems like they really know what you’re doing.”
The linebacker will have a busy summer, wanting to make his commitment prior to his senior season to focus on winning another state championship for Chandler. He has official visits planned to Wisconsin and Nebraska this June and hopes to take officialls to Arizona, Colorado or Washington State.
