LSU Football Flashback: Josh Reed (VIDEO)

Former LSU receiver Josh Reed only played three years of college football, and really only saw significant playing time in two of those three years, yet still left his mark as one as the top receivers not only in school history, but in SEC history as well.

Born in Rayne, Louisiana in 1980, Reed attended Rayne High School, where he was an All-State running back.

Recruited by former LSU head coach Gerry DiNardo, Reed played running back in his freshman year of 1999, rushing for 58 yards and one touchdown on six carries, while catching eight passes for 134 yards.

When Nick Saban took over as head coach of LSU in 2000, Reed made the move to receiver, and what a move it was, as he went on to set numerous receiving records.

In 2000, Reed had a coming out season, compiling 65 receptions for 1,127 yards and 10 touchdowns, all team highs, while helping the Tigers to an 8-4 record, including a win over Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl.

Reed was named a first-team All-SEC performer for his efforts.

2001 was even better, with Reed totaling 94 catches for 1,740 yards and seven scores, while helping guide LSU to 10-3 record and a win over Illinois in the Sugar Bowl.

During the 2001 season, Reed set an SEC record with 293 receiving yards in a game against Alabama, and set a new SEC record with his 1,740 receiving yards in a season. He also set the single season record for receiving yards per game (145.0) and at the time set the career receiving yardage record with 3,001 yards, a record that was later surpassed by Georgia's Terrence Edwards.

Those 2001 numbers earned Reed a consensus first-team All-American honor, and the Biletnikoff Award, in recognition of the nation's top receiver.

In 2001, Reed led the SEC, and the country in receiving yards (1,740), led the SEC, and was third in the SEC in receptions (94), led the SEC, and was sixth in the SEC in yards from scrimmage (1,747), and finished fourth in the SEC in receiving yards per reception (18.0).

That special 2001 season capped off a very special college football career for the running back turned receiver.

Many football fans who followed Reed, dating back to his days at Rayne High school, thought he could be a good college football player, but very few could have envisioned the staggering numbers he put up.

The Buffalo Bills selected Reed in the second round, with the 36th-overall pick of the the 2002 NFL Draft.

The 5-foot-10, 208 pound Reed went on to play eight seasons in the NFL, all with the Bills, compiling 311 career receptions for 3,575 yards and ten touchdowns.

His best two seasons were in in 2003, his second year in the league, when he had 58 catches for 588 yards and two touchdowns, and 2007, his seventh year, when he totaled 56 catches for 597 yards and one touchdown.

Reed signed with the San Diego Chargers in 2010 but never played for them.