One of the most dynamic return men in the country, Kansas State junior D.J. Reed has been named a Second Team All-American, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced Thursday night.
Reed is the third Wildcat kick returner in the last four seasons to be named an All-American, following Morgan Burns(2015) and Tyler Lockett (2014). It is the 13th time a Wildcat has been named a Walter Camp All-American, the oldest All-America team that released its 128th edition on Thursday.
Reed ranks second nationally in both kickoff- (35.3) and punt-return (17.1) average, while he has a touchdown of each variety this year. A 2017 First Team All-Big 12 kick returner, Reed is the first Wildcat since Terence Newman in 2002 to return have a kickoff-return touchdown and a non-blocked punt-return touchdown in the same season.
A product of Bakersfield, California, Reed currently holds the top mark in Big 12 history in single-season kickoff-return average, while his 32.7-yard career average rank second in school history. His punt-return average this year ranks sixth in K-State history.
Reed earned a pair of Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors this year after combining for 181 yards and a punt-return touchdown in the season opener against Central Arkansas before topping that mark with 189 combined yards and a kickoff-return touchdown against Kansas. His two combined return yardage marks rank first and second in the Big 12 this year.
Also a First Team All-Big 12 performer at defensive back, Reed enters the bowl season ranking second in the Big 12 and 21st nationally in both interceptions and passes defended. He has 32 career passes defended to sit just two away from entering the school’s career top-10 list.
