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The University of Mississippi Athletics
NFF and CFB Hall of Fame Recognize James Reed
2/8/2021 | Football, Social Responsibility & Engagement
Reed Appears on Not Your Average Hero Web Series
OXFORD, Miss. – The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta paid tribute Monday to the career of James Reed, one of the first African-American football student athletes at Ole Miss, as it celebrates Black History Month.
Reed appeared on the CFB Hall's web series Not Your Average Hero, which honors legendary college football pioneers. Interviewed by historian and curator Jeremy Swick, Reed talks about his journey to Ole Miss and experiences as he forged the path for future generations.
"College football has a rich history of being in the vanguard of shattering racial barriers," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "Ever since the first Black player took the field at a predominately white college in 1889, college football has helped integrate our country and overcome prejudices. We are extremely proud of this history, and it is a powerful testament of how football has made an impact well beyond the playing field."
Reed's Ole Miss career began in the fall of 1972, as he entered campus as one of the first African Americans to play football for the Ole Miss Rebels along with teammate Ben Williams. The two helped laid the foundation for more to come as they represented Ole Miss on the gridiron and broke barriers at the University of Mississippi and in the South.
A native of Meridian, Reed was a standout student athlete during his time at Ole Miss. In his Rebel career, the speedy tailback rushed for 1,309 yards and found the endzone nine times on his way to All-SEC honorable mention honors all three years. Reed was drafted in the ninth round by the NFL's Cleveland Browns in May 1976.
Following his playing days, Reed served as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS), serving various roles and drawing assignments in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Corpus Christi, Texas, Camp Lejune, N.C., and the national headquarters in Washington, D.C., among others.
Currently at the Hall of Fame in Atlanta, a new specially curated exhibit opened, remaining on display through May 2021. The Blood, Sweat and Tears exhibit tells the story of integration in college football and dives into the journey of African American trailblazers that changed the landscape of the sport.
Further, more episodes of the Hall's Not Your Average Hero web series can be found on YouTube featuring interviews with other college football pioneers including Kentucky's Nate Northington (Feb. 1), Mississippi's James Reed (Feb. 8), Kentucky's Wilbur Hackett (Feb. 15), Florida A&M's Albert Chester (Feb. 18) and College Football Hall of Fame inductee and Michigan State's Gene Washington (Feb. 22). All episodes will air at 12 p.m. ET.
African-Americans in the College Football Hall of Fame currently number 231 players and 13 coaches, and many of them used their exceptional skills to help integrate the game. The following list highlights several Hall of Famers along with many other notable African-Americans who helped pave the way.
Reed appeared on the CFB Hall's web series Not Your Average Hero, which honors legendary college football pioneers. Interviewed by historian and curator Jeremy Swick, Reed talks about his journey to Ole Miss and experiences as he forged the path for future generations.
"College football has a rich history of being in the vanguard of shattering racial barriers," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "Ever since the first Black player took the field at a predominately white college in 1889, college football has helped integrate our country and overcome prejudices. We are extremely proud of this history, and it is a powerful testament of how football has made an impact well beyond the playing field."
Reed's Ole Miss career began in the fall of 1972, as he entered campus as one of the first African Americans to play football for the Ole Miss Rebels along with teammate Ben Williams. The two helped laid the foundation for more to come as they represented Ole Miss on the gridiron and broke barriers at the University of Mississippi and in the South.
A native of Meridian, Reed was a standout student athlete during his time at Ole Miss. In his Rebel career, the speedy tailback rushed for 1,309 yards and found the endzone nine times on his way to All-SEC honorable mention honors all three years. Reed was drafted in the ninth round by the NFL's Cleveland Browns in May 1976.
Following his playing days, Reed served as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS), serving various roles and drawing assignments in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Corpus Christi, Texas, Camp Lejune, N.C., and the national headquarters in Washington, D.C., among others.
Currently at the Hall of Fame in Atlanta, a new specially curated exhibit opened, remaining on display through May 2021. The Blood, Sweat and Tears exhibit tells the story of integration in college football and dives into the journey of African American trailblazers that changed the landscape of the sport.
Further, more episodes of the Hall's Not Your Average Hero web series can be found on YouTube featuring interviews with other college football pioneers including Kentucky's Nate Northington (Feb. 1), Mississippi's James Reed (Feb. 8), Kentucky's Wilbur Hackett (Feb. 15), Florida A&M's Albert Chester (Feb. 18) and College Football Hall of Fame inductee and Michigan State's Gene Washington (Feb. 22). All episodes will air at 12 p.m. ET.
African-Americans in the College Football Hall of Fame currently number 231 players and 13 coaches, and many of them used their exceptional skills to help integrate the game. The following list highlights several Hall of Famers along with many other notable African-Americans who helped pave the way.
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