From working the refs to observations from ’30,000 feet,’ UM is loving game-day Ed Reed

It has been impossible not to notice Ed Reed on the Miami Hurricanes’ sideline so far this season. His now-signature long, gray beard pokes out from beneath a face mask as he prowls the sideline. He was a focus of part of ESPN’s broadcast Saturday with cameras fixed on him, a sideline report airing about his role as chief of staff and even a highlight package playing to spotlight his Miami playing career.

At one point, the cameras even picked him up imposing his will on the officials in the fourth quarter of the Hurricanes’ 47-34 win against the then-No. 18 Louisville Cardinals.

“As far as instructing players and everything, because of NCAA rules he can’t really do that,” defensive coordinator Blake Baker joked, “but I don’t think there’s a rule about getting on the officials.”

Reed has been down on the sidelines for each of the No. 12 Hurricanes’ first two games this season, which wasn’t exactly a given when Miami hired him in February. Reed’s position was intentionally relatively undefined. Chief of staff was a new position for the Hurricanes, and Miami knew Reed wouldn’t be in Coral Gables every day, instead splitting time between Florida and Georgia.

Coach Manny Diaz was just happy to have Reed as an adviser and an example to his players. On the current staff, Reed is the most clearly defined link to the Hurricanes’ glory days and the Pro Football Hall of Famer commands respect in a way very few football players or coaches ever could.

Reed became invaluable as a recruiter throughout the spring and summer, talking to prospects on the phone when the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an ongoing recruiting dead period in March. With Reed’s help, Miami currently has the No. 8 Class of 2021, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

Reed’s game-day role was never as much of a certainty. It’s perhaps surprising, then, that Diaz singled out Reed’s game-day contributions as what has stood out, rather than his insights in the week leading up to a game.

“He’s been so valuable,” Diaz said. “Between series, I’ll come find him. Just from his vantage point and his perspective, the things that he can see among our team — when you’re coaching, you’re so into what’s going on on the field that you miss. It can be where players are standing on the sideline, it can be a conversation that he had with a certain player, it can be him talking about a player and how he’s dealing with something when something doesn’t go well, and his ability to help a guy bounce back through that, so all those type things I think Ed has really done a nice job of during the game.

“Certainly after the game, there’s great value in this building, but a lot of times what he can provide in the course of the game has been really good for us, as well.”

Baker, who is also the inside linebackers coach, feels the same way.

“Ed’s been awesome. He sees things a little differently in the fact that he sees things from 30,000 feet. He isn’t necessarily always in the forest. He’s kind of seeing the woods through it and kind of, you know, even coming up to me during the game and, Hey, did you see this? Hey, did you see that?” Baker said. “He’s been really, really good for us and he’s fun to be around.”

The latest on Tate Martell

Diaz confirmed quarterback Tate Martell has opted out for the season and neither party is sure about the quarterback’s role with the program moving forward.

“We told Tate we’d just revisit it after the season,” Diaz said, “and we’ll kind of see where everything’s at.”

The Hurricanes (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) confirmed Martell is out for the season Saturday, although they did not disclose a reason.

The redshirt junior was one of three new additions to the pregame unavailability report. Miami also did not have wide receiver Jeremiah Payton or Larry Hodges, both of whom were out for undisclosed reasons.

Diaz said there’s a chance they could return Saturday when the Hurricanes host the Florida State Seminoles.

“We’ll just have to see how the week goes,” Diaz said, “but we definitely have a chance of getting some guys back that were on that list.”

Miami is not disclosing whether players are out because of COVID-19, but a source told the Miami Herald at least one player did not travel to Louisville, Kentucky, because of a COVID issue and at least one other player was exposed to the coronavirus.