Reader at peace with his decision

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu Feb 02 20:59:06 GMT-04:00 2012

A full 30 hours after his decision had been announced to the world, D.J. Reader D.J. Reader

Offensive Line

6-4, 330

Greensboro, NC

View Full Profile says his world has finally settled down.

And yes, he still feels at peace with his decision.

The big (6-3, 305) defensive tackle out of Greensboro’s Grimsley High School ended a frantic few months of recruiting when he announced his decision to attend Clemson at a National Signing Day press conference at his school.

Reader had recently narrowed his choices down to N.C. State, Maryland and Clemson, but in the past few weeks had narrowed it down to the Tigers and the Terps. Reports swung between both schools over the past week, with a report surfacing that his dad wanted him to attend Maryland.

Reader said he took care of that Tuesday morning, when he woke up and decided to follow his heart, and he sent a text to his father informing him of the decision.

"Dad, I think I wanna follow my heart. I'm not afraid to fail on this dad. I know it’s gonna be tough but you and mom prepared me for it."

Reader said it didn’t take long for his dad to text him back.

“He just told me he supported me 100 percent and that he always had my back,” Reader told TigerNet Thursday evening.

He also threw in a call to the Clemson coaches Tuesday evening.

“I called Coach [Dabo] Swinney and Coach [Robbie] Caldwell Tuesday night, and I told them I was going to Clemson,” he said. “They were pretty happy, and their emotions spoke through the phone. They were really happy.”

Once the announcement was over, he felt like he could finally relax.

“Things have finally settled down,” Reader. “It was a really good decision for me. I felt like it was the right decision for me. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I finally had a good night’s sleep.”

Reader is also a right-handed pitcher and first baseman on his high school baseball team and the ability to play both sports at Clemson factored into his decision.

“Baseball was a big factor me,” he said. “Clemson has a really good program and I know they will push me to my full potential,” he said, adding that Leggett told him he watch him this spring and make that determination when he arrives on campus. “He told me would come and scout me during baseball this season and decide from there.”