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Justus Reed signs with Florida on National Signing Day 2014: Recruitment, highlights, impact

Florida needs speed off the edge. Justus Reed can provide.

USA TODAY Sports

If Justus Reed's first name weren't Justus, a good nickname for Florida's lone true defensive end commit in the 2014 class would be "Speed." He has a lot of it.

Recruitment

Reed, from Clearwater, and Clearwater Central Catholic High School. The four-star prospect has been verbally committed to the Gators since the summer of 2013, when he snagged an offer and committed days after camping at Florida, and was recruited by Brad Lawing. Justus has been highly recruited since his junior season and held double digit BCS offers from programs such as Florida State, Ohio State, Pitt, and UCF, among others.

Highlights

Future Impact

Reed is a talented strong side defensive end, but is almost a guarantee to redshirt his true freshman year in Gainesville, primarily due to his size and the depth currently at the position. Reed will need to put on around 30 pounds before he starts competing with SEC offensive tackles on the edge, but he does have unique ability and is very technically sound on tape, so it may merely be a matter of bulking up that gets him on the field.

Once his body is built and his game is polished, Reed could certainly become an impact player on the Florida defensive line when the new rotation is inserted in 2015 and 2016, alongside Gerald Willis, Khairi Clark and Thomas Holley. His speed is something that even those three talented linemen can't quite match.