Lowndes’ Reid is player of the year

As dependable as Greg Reid was, it was never boring. In fact, it was player-of-the-year perfect.

Against Tift County, Reid, a two-way starter for Lowndes High, returned a fumble 102 yards from one end zone to another. Later in the game, he scored on a 99-yard run from his halfback position.

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CURTIS COMPTON / AJC

Greg Reid of Lowndes rushed for 1,242 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on 118 carries, an average of 10.5 yards per rush this season.

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Jason Getz / AJC

Reid also caught eight passes for 234 yards and returned 14 punts for 267 yards.

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Against Valdosta, Reid turned a short pass play into a 70-yard touchdown, and that was the difference in his team’s 14-7 victory. He had an 81-yard touchdown run in Lowndes’ only loss — against Grayson in the state quarterfinals.

Reid scored five ways this season — on runs, catches, punts, fumbles and interceptions. He never had a game that he didn’t have at least one 30-yard play, and that doesn’t include kickoff returns.

“He’s the most instinctive player I think I’ve ever seen,” said Rick Tomberlin, coach of Lowndes’ crosstown rival, Valdosta. “I’ve seen him run a sweep, and the defense has it played perfectly, and he’s like a ghost. He’ll break a long run. He just does things you don’t see ordinary guys do.”

Reid is the first Lowndes player to be named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s all-classification player of the year.

He also is the first player to be named first-team all-state for a third consecutive time in the highest classification since Ed Guthrie of Wheeler in 1975.

“He’s definitely a game-changer,” said Conrad Nix, coach of Norhside-Warner Robins. “You have to be conscious of him in every aspect of the game. When he’s on defense, you stay away from him. On offense, you’ve got to be ready to tackle him. And certainly in the kicking game. That’s where he hurt us.”

Reid’s 48-yard punt return set up an early score against Northside during a 24-7 Lowndes victory.

Reid, who is 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, has committed to the University of Florida, but his position there is uncertain. He’s listed as a cornerback by most recruiting services, but his abilities as a ball-carrier are too exceptional to ignore.

This season, he rushed for 1,242 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on 118 carries, an average of 10.5 yards per rush. He caught eight passes for 234 yards and returned 14 punts for 267 yards.

Reid’s nine interceptions led Region 1-AAAAA.

But despite Reid’s cover skills, Tomberlin believes he’s another Percy Harvin, Florida’s runner/receiver.

“You’ve got to put the ball in his hands,” Tomberlin said. “He’s special. I’ve coached against Reggie Brown, Rennie Curran, Trey Blackmon. I’ve coached Takeo Spikes, Robert Edwards, Randall Godfrey. He’s certainly in that group. Who’s to say who’s the best.”