03/14/09 - Rylan Reed’s NFL Draft status — and possibly his football career — is in limbo after the former standout Texas Tech offensive tackle had successful surgery Friday morning to repair the patella tendon in his left knee. Reed suffered the injury Thursday during Tech’s Pro Day in Lubbock, where representatives from 27 NFL teams were on hand. The injury occurred while Reed was running the 40-yard dash. Reed is 27 and has endured a series of medical issues in recent years, including being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2003. Formerly a pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization, Reed also suffered a broken ankle in the 2008 Gator Bowl. — Dwain Price, Fort Worth Star Telegram
03/13/09 - After putting on a show in the weight room, former Texas Tech tackle Rylan Reed was proving during Tech's Pro Day on Thursday why he should have been invited to the 2009 NFL Combine, but an unfortunate injury cut his day short. He suffered what looked like a dislocated left kneecap while running the 40-yard dash. Just as Reed was finishing his run, he tripped and fell, jamming his left knee into the turf. He then rolled over, clutched his knee in pain, and stayed on the ground for almost an hour before he was taken to Covenant Medical Center. With most of his former teammates and coaches watching the drills - as well as representatives from 22 NFL teams - it was a difficult turn of events considering the amount of adversity Reed has fought throughout his life. His rough past includes a battle with cancer - which he won five years ago - the death of his father and a right broken ankle suffered in the 2008 Gator Bowl. "It's messed up," former Tech safety Darcel McBath said. "I know that guy pretty well. The work that he puts in, he doesn't deserve that at all, it hurts me. I couldn't even look man because I probably would have cried. "I mean I love that guy that much, and I know how hard he works and he wants this, so to see that happen - it kind of puts a damper on this whole day." The injury came moments after Reed - who was not invited to the NFL Combine in February despite being named a Walter Camp All-American and to several Big 12 Conference first teams - bench pressed 225 pounds 44 times. The showcase of strength was no surprise considering Reed set a Tech record by benching 625 pounds in July 2008. His 44 reps gives Tech two of the strongest linemen in the country after former guard Louis Vasquez led all linemen with 39 reps during the 2009 NFL Combine. - Alex Ybarra, The Daily Toreador
