photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior running back Tyrell Reed runs the ball against Gardner Edgerton on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

Former Lawrence High standout running back Tyrell Reed Jr. announced his commitment to Arkansas on Friday, following an official visit in Fayetteville on Thursday.

Reed, after rushing for 833 yards and 13 touchdowns during his lone season at Hutchinson Community College this past fall, watched his recruitment balloon this offseason with competing Division I interest from Temple, East Carolina and UTEP, among others.

Sam Pittman’s staff at Arkansas, which again includes former Arkansas and Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, contacted Reed in March and welcomed the former Chesty Lion and LHS head football coach Clint Bowen to campus for an official visit.

“We started building a relationship and a connection there,” Reed said. “After that, I went back in April for the spring game for another visit and had a blast. They treated me like family, like we were a part of their family … They had told me ‘Just stay patient, we’re coming to get you.'”

And his patience paid off. Reed received a phone call on Tuesday about scheduling an official visit.

Even after Reed posted a near-1,000-yard season with 20 touchdowns at LHS, the offers he’d expected from close-to-home schools Kansas and Kansas State didn’t arrive. Reed leaned on his Hutch-Arkansas connections, which included Pittman — who served as Hutchinson’s head coach from 1991 to 1993 — and offensive line coach Eric Mateos.

Reed doesn’t lose any sleep over his recruitment out of high school. Instead, the Topeka native is eager to make his mark at a new-look Arkansas program after a 4-8 (1-7 Southeastern Conference) finish in 2023.

“I wanted to be close to home and make an impact in my state, but it didn’t happen like that,” Reed said.

“… Them taking a chance on me, especially a JUCO kid, just how Hutch did. They took a chance on me being a freshman in their field, and I feel Arkansas is taking a chance on me to come to their school, especially when they can go get these players out of the transfer portal.”

Reed plans to report to Arkansas in May.