JT Reed played offensive guard for the Montana State Bobcats with one of the newest Las Vegas Raiders, Tommy Mellott. He gave an exclusive interview to the Raider Ramble to talk about his former quarterback. Mellott and Reed battled together for three seasons and went undefeated in 2024. However, this season ended in dramatic fashion with a loss to North Dakota State in the championship. The lineman received All-Big Sky honors while blocking for the best player in FCS football.
Mellott, drafted in the sixth round by the Silver and Black, will see himself unite with a former rival. Cam Miller, the opposing signal-caller from North Dakota St., was also drafted by the Raiders. In an ironic turn of events, Reed will undoubtedly support both rookie hopefuls.
What role should Tommy Mellott play on the Raiders?
Although the Walter Payton Award winner primarily played quarterback, “Touchdown Tommy” was utilized at multiple positions. He played kick returner in his freshman season. Additionally, he has shown the ability to run routes at wide receiver. Putting the ball in Mellott’s hands is always a fantastic idea.
“I think Tommy [Mellott] should be used as a Swiss Army knife like Taysom Hill,” Reed said. “He is the ultimate football player.”
Besides possessing a powerful arm, the Montana St. star also poses a significant threat with his legs. He finished his senior campaign with 698 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
“Expect to be seeing many touchdowns and big plays on Sundays,” Reed said. “As long as you got Tommy on your team, you’ll always be in the fight to win every game.”
What type of player are the Raiders getting?
The talent is one thing, but the person behind the helmet is another. His teammate believes that Mellott will be a fantastic addition to the locker room. Despite his popularity, he was the first person to befriend Reed.
“Tommy expected the most out of us but also out of himself,” Reed said. “He is the best leader I have ever been around.”
In addition to being a brilliant leader, his acts of humility stand out. After away games, the star quarterback would clean up the locker room by himself. His actions left a trickling effect on his teammates and raised the standard. In similar fashion, Mellott is respectful to his opponents.
Montana State’s biggest rival is the University of Montana. Montana State dominated in a 55-21 victory. Besides boasting about the win, Mellott decided to use his post-game presser as a disclaimer for the fans. His message was to respect all of the players, even if they wore another jersey. This is a wonderful example of the type of person the Raiders are acquiring.
The sixth-round pick has both the killer talent and mentality…
Reed is from the Bay Area and grew up around many Raider fans. He is excited to see the wins his former quarterback will bring to Las Vegas.
“Expect to be seeing many touchdowns and big plays on Sundays,” Reed said. “Raider Nation should look forward to having a shot to win every game with that guy on the team.”
One particular story that showcases the killer mentality in the Montana State alum came in the playoffs against UT Martin. During a tense battle, Mellott threw a scorching ball to Taco Dowler scoring a touchdown.
After the play, No. 4 shouted to his teammates as a result.
“Who says I can’t throw the ball?” Mellott said. However, nobody on the team knew what he was talking about. As a matter of fact, the head coach had made this comment about Mellott three years prior. The Walter Payton Award winner remembered this. This mindset is expected to result in outstanding performances.
Reed finished the interview saying that having Cam Miller on the Raiders’ roster does not impact anything. Despite them being rivals, the former Montana State lineman gained respect for Miller because he paid homage to Mellott after the season.
Reed, along with his other teammates, will be cheering on their star quarterback this season. ‘Touchdown Tommy’ will have a lot of support entering his rookie campaign.
*Top Photo: Getty Images