Quick Chat: J.R. Reed

By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer

Georgia defensive back J.R. Reed has been around football for much of his life. The son of former longtime NFL wide receiver Jake Reed — 450 career receptions — J.R. is forging his own path in the secondary.

After sitting out last season following his transfer from Tulsa, the 6-foot-1 redshirt sophomore from Frisco, Tex., has become an invaluable part of the Bulldogs' highly-rated defense. Heading into Monday's College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl, Reed is second on the team with 69 tackles.

Before heading home for Christmas last week, Reed sat down for a Quick Chat. He talked presents, growing up around the NFL, candied yams and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:

Frierson: We're doing this right before you go home for Christmas, so what's the best present you've ever received?

Reed: It's when me and my sister [Jaevin, a star sprinter at Texas A&M] went to sleep and the next day, we woke up and we had an air hockey table. It was fully put together and everything, Santa and his elves put it together overnight, and it was amazing.

Frierson: What's the best thing you've ever given someone?

Reed: That would definitely be last year, when I saved up my money and got something good for my sister, my dad and my mom. I finally got them something that I bought and put a lot of thought into. I got my mom and my sister Beats [headphones] and I bought my dad something he could really use for the [yard].

Frierson: Your dad retired in 2001, so how much do you remember about growing up around the NFL? Do you remember the winters in Minneapolis during his years with the Vikings?

Reed: All I know is being in a bubble jacket and under that a hoodie, and under that a thermal, and under that's another thermal, and under that is a t-shirt. You're walking around and you can barely move.

I do not like the cold, at all. I remember being at the facilities, chewing all the gum they had around, being around all the players, seeing how big those guys were, and just as a kid being like, I don't think I can ever get that big.

Frierson: What's a holiday at home like? Is there something that immediately comes to mind?

Reed: A holiday at home is everything decked out. You've got the front yard and when you come inside, everything's decked out inside. We used to have a huge tree, like a 12-foot tree, that went almost all the way to the ceiling.

When I go home it's all out for Christmas.

Frierson: Is there one dish that's on the menu every time you all sit down for Christmas dinner?

Reed: No, there's not, but there is one dish I know that I'm going to have when I get home: candied yams. That's definitely my favorite, candied yams. I love it.

Frierson: Where would you go if you were given all the time and money you needed to travel anywhere in the world? And who would you take with you?

Reed: I keep seeing this place on Instagram, it's over in India and it's really tropical, and I don't know what it's called but I'd love to go there. I like to travel and I've been to a bunch of places, but I'd like to go way overseas. I'd maybe go to Dubai, too.

And I'd probably take my sister.

Frierson: Dubai's a place that keeps coming up when I do these. That last one I did, Lamont Gaillard also mentioned Dubai.

Reed: It seems really cool. Tokyo's another place I'd like to visit.

Frierson: Speaking of things like Instagram and the rest of social media, how do you balance all the good and bad that can come from social media?

Reed: The number one thing is, turn off your notifications. If you turn off your notifications, you'll forget about it. That happens to me all the time. Sometimes I'll turn my phone on silent and I forget about text messages. I'll turn off my notifications on Instagram and Twitter and I'll forget that I have them.

You go home, do what you do at home — play Xbox with your friends, watch TV — and if you turn off your notifications, you'll forget all about it.

Frierson: What's the most creative thing you do, or wish you could do?

Reed: In my spare time I play a lot of Xbox, a lot of video games. My roommates call me a game freak because I go to my room and get lost in playing video games.

Something I wish I could do is still play the piano. I used to play as a kid, but I totally forgot how to do it now. I wish I could still do that.

Frierson: What's the best live performance you've ever seen?

Reed: I've got to think about that. ... I've been to a lot of live sporting events, but I don't think the best one was a sporting event. ... It was an act, but I don't know what it was, exactly.

When I was in Vegas as a kid, I remember seeing the Blue Man Group for the first time — and it was when they were really hot. That was probably the best thing I saw as a kid, all the optical illusions and everything.

Another thing I remember was going to Disney World. They had a lot of good players and performances around there that were really mind-blowing.

Frierson: What's something you've tried to get really good at but have never even come close?

Reed: Pool. We have a pool table at our house and I always, at first I tried to get really good at it and I was terrible. I don't even really play it anymore; I only play it if someone asks me to play.

Frierson: What's the most important thing you've learned about yourself since you've gotten to Georgia?

Reed: I think the most important thing I've learned is that I can do anything I put my mind to. If I focus in on one thing and one task, I can complete it and be the best at it. If you really want it, give everything your all.

(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)

John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.

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