Devin Reed has a mature outlook on his freshman year at Wofford College. This Flowery Branch High graduate and freshman wide receiver for the Terriers football team used his first season as a learning experience to be ready next season to compete at a high level of college football.
But he obviously made an early impression on the Wofford coaching staff. Reed saw action in six games as a freshman in back-up duty.
Times sports writer Bill Murphy spoke with Reed, who was back at home in Hall County for Christmas vacation, about his recollections of his freshman season, the transition from high school football to college football and the success that Wofford experienced as co-Southern Conference champions.
Question: What did you have to adjust to most this season playing Division I-AA college football?
Answer: It was really a new role playing college football as opposed to playing on Friday nights. The biggest difference is definitely the speed of the game. In practice every day, I was going up against the best athletes in the Southern Conference and I feel like that is only going to make me better. That makes it as real as possible.I also learned a lot about how to get open as a receiver.
Q: Did you know you would be a receiver as opposed to defensive back in college? Does that help being able to play two positions?
A: I had no idea. I thought I might play safety, but we signed two safeties in the same recruiting class, so being able to play receiver really gives me a chance to get my name up there and see more playing time. I definitely think it helps to be able to play more than one position. I’m willing to do what I can to help the team win.
Q: How do you think you fit into your team’s offense?
A: I think I fit in well. We’re not the type of offense that is going to throw the football 20 times, but when they throw it to me I want to be able to get open and catch the ball. The biggest thing to work on is learning how to block. We probably spend half the practice working on that.
Q: What is your favorite memory from this season?
A: When we went up to Montana and won in the first round of the playoffs and beat the No. 1 seed. I remember it was so cold for that game. It was about 15 degrees at kickoff. It was the coldest weather I’ve ever been in. I remember during our Friday walk through it was about five degrees and snowing. Our team really played a good game that day. We ended up making it to the second round of the playoffs against Richmond.
Q: What is the biggest transition as a college player.
A: Just the speed of the game is so much faster. Words can’t describe how everyone out there is either just as good or better of an athlete than you are. Then on top of being a football player, you have to balance your life with school work.
Q: Is there a lot you still need to improve on for your sophomore season?
A: I think the main thing is just improving on my blocking. I think if I can do that I can really improve my chances to play more.