Not knocking Reese here and agree that we need to give him a year or two in the system before we can comment on his true skills.
That being said, he was here in the spring and although not a full year in the system could we say a better analogy then Montana in what you were looking for? I understand, ideally for what you were looking for, he would have had a full year in the system, but he did have spring game experience, and I would assume a 2/3 year start in HS.
Maybe that other half year would have helped greatly...but i just don't see it.
I agree with your comparison with Sharply. I was always high on him and wondered why he didn't play in the dismal season of '07. But if memory serves correctly, he was a Jr. that year. But had much more command over the offense then JC did.
Just my take.