Lost in all the Miami hype surrounding pancake machine Bryant McKinnie and Heisman hopeful Ken Dorsey is arguably the Canes' most reliable player: safety Ed Reed. The 6'0", 198-pound Louisiana native, who picked off eight passes in 2000, got his first pick this season last Saturday night in the Canes' romp up in State College. It came at the end of another smooth night for Reed, who has taken over leadership of a defense that not only replaced its secondary coach (Mark Stoops came over from Houston) but also has new DC Randy Shannon. "We're happy with how we started off," Reed said Wednesday.

Two years ago, then-Miami DC Greg Schiano told me Reed and Marty Carter, a veteran safety who Schiano coached while he was with the Bears, were probably the two smartest football players he'd ever been around.

Schiano talked about Reed's instincts and field visions and his understanding of every position on the defense. Reed's on-field presence would seem to be in stark contrast to the guy's cut-up personality. Reed has an answer for everything and punctuates it all with a chuckle.

He says he's excited about seeing his old mentor Saturday when Schiano brings his young Rutgers squad down to Coral Gables. He says he has no individual goals for 2001 -- other than picking up a national championship ring. "And if me getting nine INTs means that I am a better player, then I'm cool with that."

Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.