He had 2 surgeries in less than a year. Now this Boise State CB is on the comeback trail

Boise State cornerback Markel Reed hasn’t played football in 10 months, but he’s back on the field this fall competing for a starting job.

“It feels good be back out there with the guys and playing with my brothers,” Reed told reporters on Tuesday. “This summer was a big stride for me. Getting back in August for camp was the goal.”

It’s been a tough couple of years for Reed, a senior from Temple, Texas. A shoulder injury kept him out of spring practice in 2021, but he fought his way back and started four of the Broncos’ first five games last season. Then a knee injury put him on the shelf.

Both injuries required surgery, and Reed said two operations in less than a year took a toll on him.

“It was definitely hard dealing with mental issues and stuff like that,” he said. “You deal with that with injuries, but you just have to push through. I’m glad to be where I am and to be going 100%.”

Reed was held out of spring practice this year as he rehabbed from the knee surgery. He said his teammates helped him get through the darkest days, especially edge rusher Demitri Washington, who was healthy for a full slate of spring practices for the first time in his career this year.

“All my brothers helped me, encouraging me and throwing me the brotherly love I needed,” Reed said.

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Reed was limited in the first couple of weeks of camp this fall, but he said Tuesday that he’s back to full health and feeling better than ever as he works to regain his position as Boise State’s top cornerback.

“I’m blessed to have gone through what I did because it made me stronger,” Reed said. “It helped me come back stronger and strive to be better for the team.”

Adding to the emotional turmoil he was already experiencing was the fact that 2021 was supposed to be Reed’s breakout season. He had spent the previous two seasons backing up former Boise State cornerbacks Jalen Walker and Avery Williams.

Reed and redshirt senior Tyric LeBeauf started the first three games of last season. The duo also started the Broncos’ home loss to Nevada in early October, but that was Reed’s last game of the season. He suffered a knee injury during practice the following week as Boise State was preparing for its game at rival BYU.

“The main thing was I couldn’t let myself shut down,” Reed said. “I had to step up and be a leader for the younger guys.”

Reed (6-foot, 190 pounds) is one of the most experienced players on Boise State’s defense, but he’s not guaranteed a starting spot. He is one of four cornerbacks who started for the Broncos last year, joining LeBeauf, Bowling Green transfer Caleb Biggers and redshirt sophomore Kaonohi Kaniho, who has been limited in camp as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.

Reed and Biggers seem like the favorites to be starters for the season opener Sept. 3 at Oregon State, but Boise State cornerbacks coach Demario Warren said Tuesday that the competition has been fierce in camp.

“They’re fighting for reps,” Warren said. “Every time I turn around, somebody is standing next to me ready to go. They know they’re going to have to play well each and every day if they want to play on Saturdays.”

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Warren got to work with Reed in a live practice setting for the first time this week. He said it didn’t take him long to realize Reed is one of the most competitive players on the team.

“He’s going to make mistakes because he’s a little rusty,” Warren said. “But every day when he goes into the film room, he’s going to try to get better.”

Reed, who appeared in 11 games as a freshman in 2019, has the option of returning to Boise State next year because of the extra eligibility the NCAA offered players due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s not thinking about next year, though. He said he’s soaking up every second of fall camp like it’s the last one of his college career.

“During fall camp, you do lose track of days because you’re so focused,” Reed said. “You can’t look too far ahead. You have to be present and take it day by day.”

Boise State’s 2022 schedule

Sept. 3: at Oregon State, 8:30 p.m. MT, ESPN

Sept. 9: at New Mexico, 7 p.m., CBSSN

Sept. 17: vs. UT Martin, 2 p.m., FS1

Sept. 23: at UTEP, 7 p.m., CBSSN

Sept. 30: vs San Diego State, 6 p.m., FS1

Oct. 8: vs. Fresno State, TBA, Fox/FS1/FS2

Oct. 22: at Air Force, 5 p.m., CBSSN

Oct. 29: vs. Colorado State, TBA, Fox/FS1/FS2

Nov. 5: vs. BYU, TBA, Fox/FS1/FS2

Nov. 12: at Nevada, 8:30 p.m., CBSSN

Nov. 19: at Wyoming, 5 p.m., CBSSN

Nov. 25: vs Utah State, 10 a.m., CBS