He’s had 3 surgeries, but he’s still focused on being Boise State’s top cornerback
Boise State cornerback Markel Reed buried his face in his hands as he was taken to the locker room on a cart in the first half of the Broncos’ season opener at Oregon State last September.
His left leg was already in an air cast, and he remembers thinking, “This can’t be happening again.”
Reed injured his knee in the first quarter of the Broncos’ loss to the Beavers, and he missed the rest of the season. It was the second year in a row that he suffered a season-ending injury, and the third time he’s had to have surgery in the past three years.
He missed spring practice in 2021 while rehabbing from shoulder surgery. He worked his way back and started four of the first five games of the season, but tore the ACL in his right knee just days before the Broncos’ win at BYU.
His most recent knee injury also required surgery, but Reed said he refuses to let his injury history hold him back.
“I’m blessed to have gone through it,” Reed said. “My mindset is still to become the No. 1 guy and come back full strength and full speed.”
Reed said he turned to God to get through his latest setback.
“You go through some hard times when you’re injured, but I’m a Christian guy,” Reed said. “(God is) bringing me back and I’m really excited about the opportunity.”
The fifth-year senior from Temple, Texas, said the knee injury he suffered last year wasn’t as bad as doctors originally feared. He said he’s already running and plans to be full-go for fall camp in August.
Reed is on the field this spring, but only in an advisory capacity. He isn’t taking part in workouts, but he’s been a sounding board for newcomers and an extra set of eyes and ears for cornerbacks coach/special teams coordinator Demario Warren.
“He’s been here longer than I have, and he knows how this process goes,” Warren said. “He’s there to help me hold guys accountable, especially with me moving around and taking on more responsibilities.”
Reed has appeared in 24 games since 2019. He’s opened the past two seasons as a starter, and he’s one of the favorites to start again this year.
The Broncos have to replace a pair of experienced cornerbacks. Caleb Biggers started 22 games the past two seasons after joining the team as a veteran of 19 starts at Bowling Green. Tyric LeBeauf played in 39 games since 2018. He led the team with three interceptions in 2021.
Both of them declared for the NFL Draft, leaving Warren and Reed to get a group of inexperienced corners ready to play a position that includes plenty of time in the spotlight.
“We’re out there and nobody is going to hep us,” Warren said. “We’ve got to be able to cover, and there’s a certain mentality you have to have because the way we play is we’re going to be up there in your face.”
Redshirt junior Jaylen Clark is one of those cornerbacks vying for a starting spot. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Tacoma, Washington, made the first start of his career and notched his first interception at the Frisco Bowl in December.
He’s built like a safety, which is the position he played when he joined the Broncos in 2020, but Warren said Clark has a rare blend of size and athleticism that makes him an ideal cornerback.
“He’s long, has good feet and can open his hips,” Warren said. “When you have guys who look like that and can play corner, you’ve got a shot to be pretty good.”
Reed said Clark reminds him a lot of himself.
“He’s a smart guy and a big voice in the corner room,” Reed said. “We’re really competitive in practice, and he brings energy every day.”
Clark is competing with redshirt junior Kaonohi Kaniho, who started 11 games last season, and redshirt sophomore Jalen Neal, who joined the program in 2021 after a year at San Bernardino Community College.
Laney College transfer A’Marion McCoy is also on the field this spring after signing with the program in December and enrolling in January. Reed said he’s been impressed with how quickly McCoy is picking up the playbook, and added that he’s already creating turnovers in practice.
“He’s a sponge,” Reed said. “He’s eager to learn and eager to get better every single day.”
This story was originally published March 13, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
