Ole Miss lands a leader and playmaker in QB Marcel Reed
Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels have landed a commitment from Nashville Montgomery Bell Academy quarterback Marcel Reed. Numerous other schools were in the mix, but after another visit to Oxford over the weekend, the Rebels were his choice.
The head coach in Oxford is getting an exciting athlete to work with, coach, and develop.
“Marcel’s ability to extend plays makes him exciting,” Montgomery Bell Academy head coach Marty Euverard told On3. “He has a great arm, he can make the throws, he is very athletic, and he is a playmaker back there. There is a lot Marcel can do at quarterback and it starts with his arm and ability to run.”
There is more to the new Ole Miss commit though. The fans see the plays on the field. It is easy to see the natural talent of the 6-foot-2, 180-pound four-star, but coach Euverard knows there is more inside.
“Marcel hates to lose. When I first saw him in middle school, I took him to camp with the varsity, and he honestly didn’t have a great camp, but I saw his competitiveness. That stood out immediately.
“I kept him up on the varsity, and by mid-season, he earned the starting job, and took us to the state championship game as a freshman. What pushes him over the edge to be different is how competitive he is. He works hard, he competes, he does whatever it takes to win, and players love him for that.
“That work ethic he has makes him different. He has never lost it. Marcel works hard, competes hard, and that is a special trait.”
That attitude makes others around him better. Reed is not one seeking attention. He is not a recruit looking to make a big splash on social media. Marcel just wants to play the game, get better, and win.
“It is refreshing to coach a young man like Marcel. He is not a prima donna, he is not about himself, and that is something that stands out about him. It doesn’t matter is you are a starter or someone in the locker room that will likely never play, Marcel treats them the same.
“That is why he is so respected. Players are going to play hard for him because of who he is and how he treats them. It is not about him, but about the team for Marcel. He makes others around him flourish because of his attitude, the way he carries himself, and the respect he garners from his teammates.”
Kiffin, Charlie Weiss, Jr., Dane Stevens, and many others played a role in Ole Miss landing Reed and they have a lot to be excited about when he shows up in Oxford next year.
“Marcel has so much potential,” Euverard said. “He is around 175-pounds now, so he is going to get in there and get bigger, stronger, add weight, and focus on one sport for the first time in his life.
“He has played every sport for years, so for him and his body to focus only on football will change him in a big way. It will start with the body, and that will be big for Marcel. I see him getting up to 200-pounds and that will make a big difference.
“As a player, he will be stronger, and that will make him better as a passer, as a runner, and as an overall quarterback.
“Marcel has become a great leader, he has great charisma, he has that work ethic, he is not about himself, and now he will be able to mature and grow as a quarterback. He will get to run, work out of the shot-gun, make plays all over the field, and he has a lot of potential.”