Aquinas has another star

The class of 2007 from Overland Park (Kan.) St. Thomas Aquinas featured four-star linebacker Brian Smith and two other players that signed Division I scholarships, but it appears that the 2008 class will allow the Saints to produce another high quality prospect. Meet 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete Kyler Reed.

Reed earned honorable mention all-area honors at running back in 2006, but in college he can project at a number of different positions. He said most schools are recruiting him as an athlete.

"I want to play offense for sure," Reed said.

"But I'd also be fine with defense. I ask the coaches where they like me at, and they're not too sure yet. I'd like to be a running back, because it's my favorite position. But I don't know if I see myself playing it in college. I think I'm fast enough for receiver, but I'm not a speed receiver. I'd be more of a possession type guy."

Some thing he might be a tight end, but he's not sure about that.

"I don't think I have the size to be a tight end, though," he said. "So I'm kind of in the middle. But if they want me at running back, I'd be fine with it. That's where I've always played, but I'll go whatever position the coaches like me at."

Reed says he's in a similar situation as senior teammate Drake Dunsmore, who signed with Northwestern this year. His body isn't quite big enough yet to be a pure tight end, so he might have to be used as a hybrid in college. Reed also runs track and has been helping the basketball team some this season.

"I started basketball in the middle of the season because I got a few weeks off after football," he said. "I suit up and do what I can to help the team out. Football is my sport, though."

No question.

Reed already has earned a scholarship offer from Northwestern on signing day back on Feb. 7. He said he's also getting some serious attention from Duke, Wisconsin, Kansas State and Missouri.

"That offer from Northwestern was really cool," Reed said.

"It was exciting to get that first offer out of the way. I just recently called the coaches at Duke, and I texted with coach Dave Doeren at Wisconsin yesterday. I think Duke is really interested in me, and Wisconsin said they're going to watch some more film on me.

"I'm also trying to get up to K-State and Missouri. Basketball has kept me from going to some schools for junior days and things like that."