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Anyone remember former Texas Tech All-American OT, Rylan Reed?
Posted on 1/23/15 at 1:27 am
Posted on 1/23/15 at 1:27 am
My son asked me about him earlier tonight after reading something on the internet about athletes with inspirational stories. Rylan was a pitcher with the White Sox right out of high school for a few years (2001-2005) until he was diagnosed with cancer and had to quit to undergo treatment. After he beat it, he enrolled at Texas Tech where he played football (2005-2008), starting out at tight end, then gained 60 lbs. & moved to offensive tackle, and was named 1st team All-American in 2008. He also set a record at Tech in '08 on bench press ... 625 lbs.- something my son didn't believe until he saw the video. He was impressed. 
Anyway, the main reason my son was so interested in Rylan's story & asked about what happened to him and where he is now, is that Rylan played football & baseball for my high school alma mater. He also wanted to know why in the world Rylan wasn't grabbed by the Razorbacks to play either football or baseball after high school & asked who the Hogs' coach was at the time. When I told him that would've been Houston Nutt, he just replied, "Oh," & shook his head.
I was long gone from my hometown when Rylan & his family moved there, (they are originally from the Houston area), but I remember hearing from relatives & friends who still lived there when Rylan was in high school that he was a huge kid & pure phenom athlete who played both sides of the line in football, and in baseball, was an incredible pitcher with a super strong arm & wicked fast ball that averaged in the mid 90 mph range. ... Pretty much the entire town was stoked about him & talked about his incredible talent constantly, and were a bit shocked & many quite a bit disappointed when he chose pro baseball over being a Razorback since I believe Nutt did recruit him, although I don't know how hard. I suppose it worked out for the best considering the events that happened with his cancer diagnosis while playing in the minors, then his dad's getting killed in a car wreck right after he beat it, immediately before attending Tech.
After his successful football career at Texas Tech, evidently, Rylan didn't play pro, so there is really no other information about Rylan that's public, and no one that I know knows where he went after that or what he's doing. The Reed family was originally from Texas, and didn't live in my hometown very long, so there isn't any family of theirs still there, nor any ties that I know of.
Rylan's story is such a great one & one that my son was interested in since he played for my old high school, so we were curious to to know what he did after college since he didn't go pro. I was thinking coaching or professional weight lifting, maybe? Also wondering if anyone remembers if he was recruited aggressively by Nutt & who else recruited him for football.
(Sorry for the tl;dr, OG, & anyone else. I'm thorough, can't help it. It's pretty interesting though, really!!)
Anyway, the main reason my son was so interested in Rylan's story & asked about what happened to him and where he is now, is that Rylan played football & baseball for my high school alma mater. He also wanted to know why in the world Rylan wasn't grabbed by the Razorbacks to play either football or baseball after high school & asked who the Hogs' coach was at the time. When I told him that would've been Houston Nutt, he just replied, "Oh," & shook his head.
I was long gone from my hometown when Rylan & his family moved there, (they are originally from the Houston area), but I remember hearing from relatives & friends who still lived there when Rylan was in high school that he was a huge kid & pure phenom athlete who played both sides of the line in football, and in baseball, was an incredible pitcher with a super strong arm & wicked fast ball that averaged in the mid 90 mph range. ... Pretty much the entire town was stoked about him & talked about his incredible talent constantly, and were a bit shocked & many quite a bit disappointed when he chose pro baseball over being a Razorback since I believe Nutt did recruit him, although I don't know how hard. I suppose it worked out for the best considering the events that happened with his cancer diagnosis while playing in the minors, then his dad's getting killed in a car wreck right after he beat it, immediately before attending Tech.
After his successful football career at Texas Tech, evidently, Rylan didn't play pro, so there is really no other information about Rylan that's public, and no one that I know knows where he went after that or what he's doing. The Reed family was originally from Texas, and didn't live in my hometown very long, so there isn't any family of theirs still there, nor any ties that I know of.
Rylan's story is such a great one & one that my son was interested in since he played for my old high school, so we were curious to to know what he did after college since he didn't go pro. I was thinking coaching or professional weight lifting, maybe? Also wondering if anyone remembers if he was recruited aggressively by Nutt & who else recruited him for football.
(Sorry for the tl;dr, OG, & anyone else. I'm thorough, can't help it. It's pretty interesting though, really!!)
This post was edited on 1/23/15 at 1:33 am
3
Posted on 1/23/15 at 4:28 am to Arkla Missy
** Needs to be moved to Texass Teck Bored.
Thank goodness, you ran out of ink.
I vaguely remember his deal, but nothing after his college "story", but did you see that quote from a place that you've probly already searched, by a TD poster?
Thank goodness, you ran out of ink.
I vaguely remember his deal, but nothing after his college "story", but did you see that quote from a place that you've probly already searched, by a TD poster?
Posted on 1/23/15 at 6:13 am to Arkla Missy
Arkansas actually signed him as a DE in the 2000 class.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 6:14 am to Ole Geauxt
OG, this is the Arkansas board, and of all people to chime in with your non constructive comments is uncalled for.
I remember us recruiting RR and him eventually ending up at Texas Tech.
Being a South Central/Southeast AR product myself I find it interesting and pertinent.
I remember us recruiting RR and him eventually ending up at Texas Tech.
Being a South Central/Southeast AR product myself I find it interesting and pertinent.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 6:24 am to WonderWartHawg
I actually tried to research at 3:45 in the morning to give her more info, I'm sure u pita lot if effort into your post as well. Its hard to type kiss my arse while driving in rain in dark, but I'll shorten it. KmA
Posted on 1/23/15 at 6:45 am to WonderWartHawg
quote:
WonderWartHawg
Posted on 1/23/15 at 8:42 am to Raz4back
quote:
Arkansas actually signed him as a DE in the 2000 class.
I didn't know this, but I'd been gone for a number of years when Rylan graduated from hs. ... No wonder everyone was pretty disappointed. I guess they would be if he'd signed with the Hogs, then changed his mind. I wonder if the hs baseball coach had any influence on his decision. But like I said, I guess it worked out best for him though, considering all that happened. From all accounts, he was a really good kid & everyone seemed to like him, & not just bc of his athletic ability.
I wonder how he would've done on defense in college? My brother went to several hs games & saw him play at tight end & defensive end. I remember him saying, judging by his size, he should be on the OL if he'd "bulk up" some. He was 6'7" but pretty lanky in hs. I believe he gained a lot of weight (muscle) at TxTech to play offensive tackle. ... He majored in exercise sport science, but Idk if he went into that field after college. Always wondered why he didn't try pro?
Posted on 1/23/15 at 10:05 am to WonderWartHawg
WWH, OG is a good friend of mine & we joke around a lot - it's all good natured & all in fun. He is extremely knowledgable about football & baseball - played both in hs & college fb - and although he's a die-hard Tiger fan, because of the area he grew up, he was raised with Razorback fb as well as LSU sports. He's always had an interest in Hog fb & knows a good bit about the history.
He makes extremely constructive comments when warranted, but considering the nature of the SEC & Tiger Rants with their over abundance of stupid, arrogant, imbecile posters who believe they know it all because they can google stats, but have never touched a ball in their lives, except their own, nor know any history of their own school's programs, there is no point, many times, in even attempting to make constructive comments based on experience & actual knowledge since the morons know everything already and have an aversion to listening, learning, & having true discussions. The only thing they know to do is make ignorant, juvenile retorts in response, so it is frustrating to try to comment constructively & knowledgeably to idiots who believe they know all when they actually know very little - just regurgitate stats & what they have read on twitter or some other social media site.
I think this is a pertinent topic, as well, since Reed played for a high school in Arkansas - mine - and his story is a very inspirational & interesting one. Naturally, I am curious to know what happened to him after his pro & collegiate sports careers, as was my kid. Evidently, someone whose initials are probably Stonehog does not think this topic is pertinent, hence the down vote of my original post; he seems to have a problem with me & S. Arky in general. Perhaps criticism should be reserved for the true assholes who are not joking with their flaming comments - even if they're from the same fanbase - and not rained down upon friends of this fanbase who happen to belong to another and who good naturedly rib & joke around with us. I don't discriminate against posters just because they're from another fanbase; many, like OG, are good ones who are "friendly rivals" with an interest in & knowledge of the Hogs.
OG & I have already discussed Rylan Reed since he played for my hometown. He was obviously joking with the post he made here. I'm hoping you were, as well, to some degree with your comment to him.
He makes extremely constructive comments when warranted, but considering the nature of the SEC & Tiger Rants with their over abundance of stupid, arrogant, imbecile posters who believe they know it all because they can google stats, but have never touched a ball in their lives, except their own, nor know any history of their own school's programs, there is no point, many times, in even attempting to make constructive comments based on experience & actual knowledge since the morons know everything already and have an aversion to listening, learning, & having true discussions. The only thing they know to do is make ignorant, juvenile retorts in response, so it is frustrating to try to comment constructively & knowledgeably to idiots who believe they know all when they actually know very little - just regurgitate stats & what they have read on twitter or some other social media site.
I think this is a pertinent topic, as well, since Reed played for a high school in Arkansas - mine - and his story is a very inspirational & interesting one. Naturally, I am curious to know what happened to him after his pro & collegiate sports careers, as was my kid. Evidently, someone whose initials are probably Stonehog does not think this topic is pertinent, hence the down vote of my original post; he seems to have a problem with me & S. Arky in general. Perhaps criticism should be reserved for the true assholes who are not joking with their flaming comments - even if they're from the same fanbase - and not rained down upon friends of this fanbase who happen to belong to another and who good naturedly rib & joke around with us. I don't discriminate against posters just because they're from another fanbase; many, like OG, are good ones who are "friendly rivals" with an interest in & knowledge of the Hogs.
OG & I have already discussed Rylan Reed since he played for my hometown. He was obviously joking with the post he made here. I'm hoping you were, as well, to some degree with your comment to him.
This post was edited on 1/23/15 at 2:44 pm
Posted on 1/23/15 at 10:16 am to Arkla Missy
Nutt recruited Reed pretty hard IIRC.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 10:28 am to hogminer
I remember hearing Rylan was thinking about Arkansas & people being really disappointed when he didn't go, but went to the White Sox instead. Raz4back said he was actually signed to play on D for the Hogs, which I didn't know. I'm just wondering if the hs baseball coach influenced his decision, and being familiar with that coach, I can see him doing that. What's interesting is that the hs baseball coach was also the high school football OC & o-line coach.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 10:45 am to Arkla Missy
didn't he play HS ball at Crossett? I used to coach there and if he's the kid I'm thinking of everyone spoke very highly of him. Great kid and most thought of him as a better baseball player than football.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 11:08 am to ElDawgHawg
Yes, he played both football & baseball at CHS. ... He supposedly had a 95 mph fast ball in hs. Maybe that's why he decided to go pitch in the pros right out of hs rather than play fb for Arkansas. Evidently, he was signed as a defensive end, but when he eventually played for TX Tech, he started out as a tight end, but became an offensive tackle after gaining 60 lbs. to do it. That's when he made All-American. ... Everyone I know thought he was just a super kid - awesome attitude, very humble even though he was a phenom, & had an exceptional work ethic - all of which helped him get through his cancer, then his dad dying in a car wreck right after he went into remission. I suppose he decided to go to Tech to play fb since he didn't have the same strength as a pitcher after his cancer treatments. I think that's when he got into lifting pretty seriously. ... He's overcome & accomplished so much at such a young age & is such a good guy, I was interested to know what he's doing now & hopefully still clear of cancer.
This post was edited on 1/23/15 at 11:10 am
Posted on 1/23/15 at 11:32 am to Arkla Missy
I will try and get ahold of some of my Crossett boys and see if anyone has heard from him lately....
Posted on 1/23/15 at 12:02 pm to ElDawgHawg
I played baseball with RR at CHS, I just moved from Crossett about six months ago, not long after he graduated from high school his family moved, not sure where to, I haven't heard from him and years and don't really know of anybody that has kept in touch with him but I'll ask around and see if anybody know where he is.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 12:29 pm to HogsWillRiseAgain
that's kind of what I was thinking.... I coached there for 2 years and never met him or any of his family. I assumed they either moved or didn't have any more kids in school.
Posted on 1/23/15 at 2:14 pm to ElDawgHawg
quote:
I will try and get ahold of some of my Crossett boys and see if anyone has heard from him lately....
Did you coach baseball? My family nor I have lived there in years, but I'm sure I know some of the boys' families who you coached. ... There's been a recent baseball star (graduated last year) from CHS who got a scholly somewhere, but not Arky. Initials GH?
This post was edited on 1/23/15 at 2:48 pm
Posted on 1/23/15 at 2:29 pm to HogsWillRiseAgain
quote:
I played baseball with RR at CHS, I just moved from Crossett about six months ago, not long after he graduated from high school his family moved, not sure where to, I haven't heard from him and years and don't really know of anybody that has kept in touch with him but I'll ask around and see if anybody know where he is.
Oh wow, small world!
... I believe Rylan's family moved back to TX after he graduated hs. His dad got killed in a car wreck a few years later in TX, I assume. Very sad, especially after he'd had to deal with the cancer thing. I was shocked hearing that he had it, but so glad he beat it & went on to have a successful collegiate fb career. I was sort of surprised not to see anything about a pro fb career, or at least an attempt. He might've had an injury or something. ... Anyway, good to see a hometown peep here. 
Posted on 1/25/15 at 6:19 am to Arkla Missy
I'm from Hamburg and remember RR very well in high school. He was a high school baseball phenom. Around 6' 3" with a 93-95mph fastball at 17-18 years old is a VERY intimidating presence on the mound. I'm pretty sure Hogs offered him but he chose the chance at money with pro baseball.
I could not believe the size and strength he acquired while at Tech. That bench press is amazing, but that's been the word to describe RR since he was 14. Just amazing.
I would also like to know about his present status. Thanks for bringing back some good memories. Also made me think of another great baseball player from Crossett that came along a few years after RR. A kid named Bryant Nelson.
I could not believe the size and strength he acquired while at Tech. That bench press is amazing, but that's been the word to describe RR since he was 14. Just amazing.
I would also like to know about his present status. Thanks for bringing back some good memories. Also made me think of another great baseball player from Crossett that came along a few years after RR. A kid named Bryant Nelson.
Posted on 1/25/15 at 11:14 am to HogBalls
Actually Bryant Nelson was much earlier than RR my brother played with him and he graduated in '94. Bryant had a little brother that played with RR and played some minor league ball, Brandon Jones, maybe that's who you are thinking of.
Posted on 1/26/15 at 10:22 am to HogsWillRiseAgain
I coached Varsity football and 8th and 9th grade basketball.
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