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DEL.ICIO.USLowndes DB Greg Reid: Five things worth knowing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Greg Reid of Lowndes, who has committed to Florida, has a special ability to make things happen, even when it comes to awards.
When voting on all-region teams last year, coaches couldn’t figure out how to properly honor Reid because of his all-around versatility. They eventually decided to name Reid the overall Region 1-AAAAA player of the year, an honor which had not been given out in many years.
The 5-foot-9, 186-pound Reid might want to clear out some more space in his trophy case this year.
He is a member of the AJC Super 11 and is the early front-runner for the state’s all-classification player of the year through six games for Lowndes, ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA and the defending state champion. The speedy Reid also could push for the state’s No. 1 college prospect.
What does Reid do? What doesn’t he do? He plays tailback, quarterback and wide receiver on offense. He also plays cornerback (his college position) and returns all kickoffs and punts.
In front of a national television audience in last week’s 24-7 victory against Northside-Warner Robins, Reid set up two scores with a 41-yard run and 49-yard punt return, while finishing with 118 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. He’ll be on ESPNU on Friday, when Lowndes plays Valdosta.
Here are five things to know about Reid:
1:. He loves Florida: Reid is a lifelong Florida fan who was one of the first commitments for the Gators’ 2009 recruiting class.
“There’s nothing like being in The Swamp on a Saturday night,” he said. “It’s so loud and packed, the type of atmosphere I’ve always dreamed about playing in. I’ve been a Florida fan since I was born.”
What could change his mind? Georgia offered Reid, who said he looked closely at the offer but never gave it serious thought. Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez was on the sidelines last Friday. “I know Coach Martinez; we made eye contact,” Reid said. “But I’m 100 percent with Florida.”
2: He should make the grade: While talent is not a topic of debate, even Reid admits school hasn’t always been his priority.
“I’m like a lot of kids — I could always do the work, but I wasn’t always motivated,” he said. “But it’s different now. Once you realize what you have in front of you, you straighten up and do whatever it takes.”
Reid said Florida checked on his academics last week and said he was on pace to meet college entrance requirements.
“I’ve got to make all Bs in my classes, which I’m doing, and I’m taking the SAT next month,” Reid said. “Florida feels good about my situation, and so do I.”
3: He can run: Reid appeared to hit a different gear against Northside, which boasts one of the state’s top defenses with AJC Super 11 selections Abry Jones at tackle and Eric Fields at linebacker. Reid’s bursts of speed often make defenders look like they are in slow motion. But he’s not as fast as you would think.
“I don’t know, I probably run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 or 4.5 seconds,” he said. “But there’s track speed and field speed. When I get on the football field, I feel like I run a 4.3 or 4.2 with the pads on.”
4: He leads with emotion: Reid said it’s not his dazzling plays that are most important to Lowndes, but his role as one of the team’s emotional leaders. He often raises his hands to stir his teammates and the crowd. And he doesn’t shy from trash talk.
“If my team isn’t pumped, then I can’t get pumped,” he said. “With the other stuff, if you only knew some of the unbelievable things other teams and players say and do to me during games. I need to get used to it, but it’s hard. I’m trying better to keep my cool.”
5: He’s a normal kid: Teammates say he’s low-key off the field. Reid said he has a “laid-back personality” and is just fine with staying home and watching football on weekends, while eating his mother’s cooking. He earns spending money by working for his uncle’s concrete business.
“Wow, now that’s some hard work, I promise you,” he said.
It’s one of the few activities that Reid doesn’t make look too easy.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Florida
Comments
By Drock08
October 8, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
One of the best two way players in GA if not the best. I have been impressed with him for the last two years. Being a FSU fan I hate he choose Florida but anyone who see this kid play knows he is the real deal. I would love to see a matchup with his team Lowndes Vikings vs the Newnan Cougars in the playoffs.
By tom
October 8, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Who cares? Go Dawgs!
By GT GRAD
October 8, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Based on what I have seen, I am glad he is going to Florida and not UGA or GT!
He seems to be VERY cocky and shows strong signs of serious ATTITUDE problems. He is obviously talented, but mark my words………he will prove to be more trouble than he is worth before the end of his college football career is over at Florida.
His teammates are consistently grabbing him and walking him away from the opposing players and the referees. I would guess he is more like Mike Vick or Deangelo Hall and less like Donnovan McNabb or Warrick Dunn.
By VIKING DAD
October 8, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Greg Reid is the real deal. I have never seen a high school player as good as he is. When you think you’ve got him, he finds some way to slip away. GREG REID is THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL.
By VIKING DAD
October 8, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Greg Reid is the real deal. I have never seen a high school player as good as he is. When you think you’ve got him, he finds some way to slip away. GREG REID is THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL.
By jhenry
October 8, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
To GT grad You say you’re glad now, but wait. I have never seen Greg being pulled away from a ref; a player, maybe, but not a ref. Furthermore, you would be surprised at the things that are said and done to him on the field. He doesn’t have to let people run all over him just so people like you can say something good about him. You mistake confident for cocky. Maybe if you had some skill, you could be cocky, too. Don’t hate on that young man. You know nothing about him, so stop trying to judge a book by its cover. I’ve know him since he was little and he is not cocky. The things that you see him doing on the field now, he was doing when he was 5 or 6. He’s just gotten much, much better at his skills. Try getting to know a person before you spout such trash from your mouth!
By MIke
October 8, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
OK, as a LHS alum, I’ll pull for him for now. Until College. Then I hope FSU pounds the Gator in the ground.
By viking lover
October 8, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
Say what you want ,but I have seen this young man motivate his team and play with complete confidence and passion. It is now becoming a usual thing for Greg to shake hands with the fans and talk with them after the games. I believe most people know that there is something special about him and want their chance to say, “I knew him when he was a Viking.” Call him cocky if you want, but I prefer to call it Grace under Pressure. Good luck Greg. I have enjoyed watching you play at Lowndes and will continue to watch you at Florida and beyond.
By Grateful Dave
October 8, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
GT GRAD- You have NEVER seen Greg Reid’s teammates have to pull him away from a referee. The kid is a ball player period and passionate. He should be cocky for how good he is compared to the other players in the highest classification of high school football in GA. There has been a few others like him I have seen play in high school. Jeff Francoeur and Randall Godfrey come to mind. Jeff because he took over games on both offense and defense too. Randall because he could have played defense all by himself in high school…teams could not run away from him no matter how hard they tried. It’s fun to watch kids with that much talent and then have them go to the next level and succeed and the next level. Jeff just happened to do it in another sport. Typical Georgia tech sour grapes nonsense!
By vikings rule
October 8, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
No doubt that GREG REID is the TRUTH. I like to call his ability to make people miss the RAZZLE DAZZLE. I told him that personally after the Tift/Lowndes game. Of course he just laughed. And to all the people posting about him being cocky and downing him for choosing FLORIDA is wrong. Greg we fans here at Lowndes love and appreciate you and your team mates for your hard work and dedication. You give 100% on every single play and if your childhood dream was one day to play for THE FLORIDA GATORS then go there and make us all very proud. I guess i just don’t understand why all these people are judging REID and attacking his character when you guys don’t even know anything about him. So to Greg, just remember to put GOD first, work hard, and there won’t be anything that is too big for you to achieve. We love ya #24. Now lets go get them CATS friday night!
By GT GRAD
October 8, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
It is good to see several people who know him personally come to his defense. I stand corrected and I hope he has a great college career and a wonderful life. I simply made my judgment based on what I saw happen during the Northside WR game a few days ago. If you watch that game with no pre-conceived opinion, he seemed as I described above. I admit I do not know him and I definitely do not know enough to make an educated decision about him……..I suppose I fell victim to the easy nature of typing hateful comments from a distance with no consequences. This not how I conduct myself in other areas of my life; being judgmental is a dangerous and immature act. I apologize to Greg and hope my ignorant comments do no harm in his life.
Note to jhenry: I do have a few skills (physical and mental) that many people would be proud to possess and I am a fairly confident person. I don’t think COCKY is a trait which should be touted or condoned. Of course, the same could be said for being judgmental.
Good luck to Greg!!
Take care
By vikings rule
October 8, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
GT GRAD I think we all get caught up in the hype sometimes. I think we’ve all made comments sometimes that we take back later. I’m somewhat guilty of that in my posting before the Northside/Lowndes game and it turned out to be one of the best games i’ve been to in a long time. matter of factly we were sitting with some Northside fans and we had a great time. I’ll be the first to admit how people who don’t know Greg can mistakenly perceive him as being somewhat cocky at times, but all of us who has watched him play year after year knows that he is just full of energy. This guy has an engine that never quits. He gets so caught up in the game that sometimes i think he just wants everyone else to be as pumped as he is. He knows how to fire up the Lowndes fans. So no hard feelings
By jhenry
October 8, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
To GT GRAD It is refreshing to see a person who does not mind admiting that perhaps they made a mistake. Thank you for you latter comments. Now, I too, will apologize for pre-juding your skills (physical or mental); it just upset me to read your earlier comments because like I said, I know the true Greg Reid. Anyway, no hard feelings; after all, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion even when they are slightly jaded. Again, no hard feelings.
By For Those About To Rock
October 8, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
I’ve only seen him play a couple of times on TV, what a STUD. I like to hear he is a great young man and hope everything works in his favor. Finally, glad he is not going to UGAY, CMR would ruin him.
By teacher
October 9, 2008 10:51 PM | Link to this
Interesting reading from all of you, and I must say I am very impressed GT GRAD with admitting you may have jumped to conclusions. Knowing him as kid in class, he is typical high school student, who has an enormous amount of pressure coming from many directions. As he continues this year, my hope for him is not only continue to excel in working with his teammates to win each game, but to also grow as a person and become the young man so many people hope he will never be. Whether he plays for Florida or some other school, football is his means to an education and making a life for himself that so many want to see out of his reach. I hope he can prove all of them wrong. Regardless of where he goes, I will cheer for him as will those others who truly want to see something better for him, and I will be happy for him—even if he dons the orange and blue.
By usc
February 10, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this
i think greg reid is a fool. he has no respect. he is also very cocky not confident