Former Clemson coach Reedy enjoys coaching Shell

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Tue May 25 13:36:59 GMT-04:00 2010

CLEMSON – Goose Creek High School head football coach, Chuck Reedy, stood on the sidelines three years ago as his team played West Ashley, and he immediately took notice of the freshman offensive lineman on the other side of the field named Brandon Shell.

Little did Reedy know then that he was destined to coach Shell, and that the young lineman would develop into one of the most sought-after linemen in the nation by the end of his junior year.

“He spent his first two years at West Ashley, and when we played against him there was never any inclination that he would be playing for us one day,” Reedy said recently. “But even when he was a ninth grader, you could tell he had tremendous potential and upside.”

After his sophomore year, Shell’s mother moved back into the Goose Creek area to be nearer to her family, giving Reedy, who coached at Clemson during the 1981 National Championship season and was later the head coach at Baylor, the chance to coach Shell.

Shell, who is also the nephew of former Raider standout and head coach Art Shell, has blossomed into a 6-foot-7, 310-pound lineman who has good hands, quick feet and has most of the big programs in the Southeast knocking on his door, and Reedy said it couldn’t happen to a nicer young man.

“He is as good a prospect as you will ever find, and he has everything you’re looking for,” Reedy said. “I would be shocked if he doesn’t help somebody as a freshman, because he has all of that athletic ability. I can’t say too much good about him. I could just go on and on and on. He played basketball this past season, and he lost weight, so he looks like he’s about 250, but it’s just because he is so lean. He has great hands and feet, and he’s strong. And he is as nice a young man as I’ve ever coached. He is just genuinely a nice person.”

Reedy said that Shell, who seems to have a top four of Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, doesn’t like the whole recruiting process, and is instead a quiet young man. Reedy said that makes it his job, as his head coach, to help protect Shell during the next several months.

“He is very quiet; he doesn’t say much at all,” Reedy said. “When he gets around the guys, the players he is used to, he will be a little more open. But around the coaches and other people, he is very quiet and doesn’t say much. My role is to protect him, and give him the opportunity to be a high school kid and to enjoy his senior year of high school.

“I am here as a resource for him, and his mom, when they need help. My main role is to help him wherever I can. I don’t care what college he chooses. I have no preference. I just want him to go somewhere where they can help him develop and reach his goals. He is a first round, NFL draft pick if he gets in the right program and stays healthy and continues to develop. He has a bright future, and I am here to facilitate that any way I can.”

Shell played right tackle last season, and will probably play there again this season, but Reedy said he sees Shell moving to left tackle at the next level.

“He has done great, he works hard and does everything we ask him to do,” Reedy said. “Everybody pretty much that has been through here, when they see him, they say he is as fine a line prospect that they have ever seen. He is better than anyone I ever recruited. I never saw one that had his body plus that athletic ability. He has those great hands, and he will definitely be a left tackle in college.

“We were going to move him to left tackle last year, but we made the decision to leave him there and when he gets to college, someone will make a left tackle out of him. That is what he will be when he gets to the pros. He has great reach. Great big old wingspan. And great feet. Whatever school gets him, they are going to get a good one.”