Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1030409
T H E 2 0 1 8 S E A S O N Lions' late-season games last year. That wasn't an option – it had already been decided that he would take a medical red- shirt – but his quick recovery under- scored just how seriously he had approached his rehabilitation. Reid's determined mindset was entirely in character. He had come to Penn State in 2015 with an all-business reputation. While attending the Lasch Bash barbecue the summer before he signed, Reid spent the afternoon holed up in a meeting room with then-defensive coordinator Bob Shoop breaking down film. After arriving on campus, he continued to impress with his devotion to game prep. Shoop's suc- cessor, Brent Pry, recently described Reid as "the ultimate professional." He's not a professional, of course – at least not yet. But it's not hard to understand why someone might describe him that way. Said Pry, "He works every day to master his craft. He's got a great skill set. He's got incredible maturity." That maturity was evident this past spring. Reid, who is majoring in data sci- ences and recently did an internship at IBM, took 18 credits while also continuing to strengthen his knee and take part in spring practice. On the days when Penn State drilled, he would show up at the rehab room at 8 a.m. When he was fin- ished with his exercises, he would head off to class, then return to the Lasch Building for practice. Fol- lowing practice, he would sit down for film sessions. To save time, he would often watch film with his uniform still on. If it sounds as though he was overscheduled, well, maybe he was. But Reid's passion for football was – and still is – a powerful motivator. "I always want to play," he said. "My love for the game, how eager I am to play – that's never changed. Even when I was hurt, I still wanted to play. That's the rea- son I'm here. It's opened so many doors for me and it's changed my life. Football, no matter if it's my first game or last game, it's always the same excitement." ■ PLAYING CATCH-UP Reid started Penn State's opener against Appalachian State. It was his first appearance in a game since the Nittany Lions faced Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl in January 2017. Photo by Steve Manuel