A commitment to helping their players find success after football helped the University of Washington land a commitment from Lake Charles College Prep defensive back Curley Reed.

Reed, a four-star recruit, is ranked the No. 131 recruit in the country by Rivals and is the highest-rated Husky commit. A June visit to Seattle sold Reed on the Huskies.

“The coaching staff and the communication I had with them were key,” he said. “On my visit there they had people from Amazon and other companies come and talk about life after football and all the opportunities that would be available there. That was a big factor in my recruitment. Life after football was my main focus because one day you are going to have to hang up your cleats.”

An opportunity to experience a new culture enticed Reed to Seattle.

“The city is huge, a different style from Louisiana,” he said. “I think I’m ready to experience different things in life and the city was nice for sure.”

On the field, Washington’s history of producing NFL defensive backs impressed Reed.

“In this year’s draft they had a first-round pick (Kansas City’s Trent McDuffie) and a second round pick (Chicago’s Kyler Gordon) from Washington, that’s really big having two guys from one school going to the NFL.”

Reed said his size, strength and knowledge of the game makes him a ready-to-play recruit.

“I’m physical, I can press, I can play zone and I have a good football IQ,” he said. “I think I can come in as a freshman and compete.”

Before leaving, Reed wants to have a big senior season with the Blazers, who reached the state semifinals in Reed’s last season on the field as a sophomore.

“I want to have a great season, be a leader on and off the field,” he said. “We’re working every day. I’m working on my heel flexibility, my hips flexibility so I can open up; different things to get better.”

Reed also took visits to TCU, Florida State and Oregon. Other schools he considered included Miami, Alcorn State, Purdue, Nebraska, USC, Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State.