Reed Lines Up For UCLA Bruins

Nordhoff grad named starting center

By Mike Miller
With spring football at UCLA in the books, it appears as though 2004 Nordhoff graduate Micah Reed has earned a starting spot at center for the new-look Bruins. “Nothing is set in stone, but I practiced the ones all spring and I did well, so it looks good and I am really excited for the season to start,” said Reed.
Reed enters his senior campaign having started the final eight games on the offensive line for the Bruins and with the arrival of new head coach Rick Neuheisel, the feeling around the UCLA campus is much different. “Coach Neuheisel is such a motivational and high energy guy. He is so much different than coach (Karl) Dorrell was. He was a good guy, but coach Neuheisel has really changed people’s way of thinking,” said Reed.
After a 6-7 season, the Bruins have their sights on a much different outcome for this coming season according to Reed. “Many people were saying that this would be a rebuilding year, but the first thing that Coach Neuheisel said to us was that saying that was a slap in the face of our senior class and we have taken it personally. We are not rebuilding at UCLA. We are looking to win the Pac-10 and we want to become national champions. All of the seniors are approaching the season with that in mind,” added Reed.
As for Reed, he has some lofty goals of his own. “I want to help lead our rushing game to be one of the best in the nation and I want to protect the quarterback, no matter who it ends up being, to the best of my ability. We are short in numbers at quarterback, so protecting whoever is back there is going to be very important to our success. I would like to be an All-American, but really I just want to win games and go out a winner at UCLA.”
Reed is hoping that his final game does not happen at UCLA and he is eyeing a future in the National Football League. “The NFL has been a goal of mine since I started playing football. It is my goal and my dream.”
Reed adds that the NFL has been around to weigh and measure him for next year’s draft but a lot of his future depends on how he does this year. “I have not heard anything about the NFL from anyone yet. The plan is to do my best this year and then I will get an agent and see what happens from there,” he said.
The Bruins will kick off their season against the Tennessee Volunteers on Sept. 1. Reed said, “This will be my first game against a SEC team, so I am excited. The Pac-10 will be tough as always, but we’ll be prepared to play each week.”
Just because Reed is in the trenches at UCLA does not mean that he has forgotten about his NHS roots. He said, “I am very excited to hear that Tony Henney has taken over the program. Tony coached me in Pop Warner and he is not only my friend, but he is one of the most inspirational and best coaches that I have ever had.” If the NFL does not work out for the senior history major, a coaching and teaching opportunity in Ojai would be quite appealing. “I would love to coach for the Rangers some day and I may get my teaching credential, so who knows.”
Reed will complete his finals on June 14 and then after a short week off, he’ll jump back into summer school and summer conditioning. Football officially starts on Aug. 4 for Reed and the Bruins.