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http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/83779/fathers-memory-spurs-on-clemson-dt-d-j-readerIt has been over a year since the man most responsible for his Clemson career passed away. D.J. Reader has accepted that finally, after months spent wondering why.
So he goes into the start of camp today with a renewed focus, a renewed energy, a renewed confidence, knowing his time to start has finally arrived. His father, David, is not here to see it. But D.J. Reader believes everything his dad taught him brought him prepared him for this moment.
Because David Reader taught his son everything -- he home-schooled him for several years in elementary school. He went with him to football practice, baseball practice, basketball practice, going over the finer points. He taught him to open his heart to others, to be generous, to always give.
D.J. Reader understood. He wanted to give to his dad, in need of a kidney transplant last summer. His dad refused, starting dialysis treatments early so there was no way his son could be a kidney donor. A week before he died, David Reader challenged his son.
"He told me, 'Look, son you’ve got to be ready. I’ve been training you since you were 1 year old to be ready for the day that I’m gone,'" D.J. Reader recently recalled. "You have to impact this world and make it a better place with the tools I’ve given you."
David Reader died one day before D.J. turned 20. When his mom delivered the news, D.J. Reader was crushed. But his mother remained stoic on the line.
"She just reiterated what my dad had always told me, 'to whom much is given, much is required,'" D.J. Reader said. "That situation was given to me. There was nothing I could do to control it. It was required of me to get over it as a man and move on. I’m honored that I wear the same last name as my father and the same first name. I’m a spitting image of him, and I take pride in that. It’s a blessing."
Still, D.J. Reader says most of last year was "a little cloudy." It took midway through the football season for him to accept what had happened.
"I said, 'He wouldn’t want me moping. He’d want me to pick up because he’s never moped over himself,'" Reader said. "I watched him lose his mother, and he would never shy away from a challenge. So he taught me that young, and I was like, 'You know what? He’s not coming back, but he’s here with me every day and all I can do is honor him and make the best of what I have."
That means having a huge senior season. Reader is set to become a full-time starter at defensive tackle on a completely revamped Clemson defensive line, one that lost all four starters -- including two to the NFL draft.
There are those who look at the new-look line and wonder how the Tigers will fare, a year after ranking as the No. 1 defense in America.
"We plan on improving," Reader said. "We don’t plan on going backward. We’re excited about the opportunity, and we’re going to go out there and shake a few people’s heads who didn’t quite believe in us this year. We’re playing with a little chip."
Reader is playing with much more.
interesting, why do you say that?We needed someone for NT. Wilfork isn't lasting much longer. He probably isn't coming back next year.
Future two down run plugger to replace Wilfork. He'll be good at it too.
interesting, why do you say that?
I wasn't too happy with Wilfork last season. Seems to have lost a heck of a lot of explosiveness.
I'm hoping the big guy's rededictated himself to his craft, I know he's 30 something, but I'm hoping.
If not, maybe DJ can present a case for a lot of snaps this season.
I posted elsewhere that Reader's died died apprx June 2014 and he took it very hard; went to coach in 2015 and took some time off. Team voted to take him back.
http://www.postandcourier.com/artic...his-biggest-fan-after-dads-death-2-months-ago
http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/83779/fathers-memory-spurs-on-clemson-dt-d-j-reader
I wasn't too happy with Wilfork last season. Seems to have lost a heck of a lot of explosiveness.
I'm hoping the big guy's rededictated himself to his craft, I know he's 30 something, but I'm hoping.
If not, maybe DJ can present a case for a lot of snaps this season.
Reader has a clean injury history.
John Harris @jharrisfootball 2h2 hours ago
Wrote this about newest Texan D.J. Reader in my Senior Bowl observations back in January
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Maybe the Texans plan on using Reader at NT and Wilfork at DE? That would be a tough duo to run against and entirely free up the ILB's to make plays.Before he came to us and was put in at his "old" role of NT, the Patriots were smart to recognize that at this point in his career and after sustaining his Achilles rupture, he would do better at DE........they used him correctly and were rewarded for it.
Probably won't be on the roster in two years.
And you base that opinion on what?
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1983526/dj-readerOne thing you can say about this 325-pound defensive tackle is that he has always been a very athletic big man. He was a multiple sport star in high school and even played baseball and part time fullback with Clemson, in addition to his full-time defensive tackle duties on the Tigers' front.
Played over the center at nose guard and the three-technique position for Tigers. Moves very well given his size. You can see why many programs liked him initially at guard, because Reader has terrific feet and nice short-area quickness.
Shows good agility, especially in traffic. He gets off the ball well and plays with good leverage. Can get up field and be a pass rush presence, though he is more dependable against the run.
An impressive mover for his size, Reader looked balanced and carried his weight well during drills at the Senior Bowl. He showed the lower-body flexibility to play low and win the leverage battle
The more I read about this guy the more I think that we are going to be happy we burned a pick on him. It seems like his "breakout year" was this past one but he missed 7 games for personal reasons and so it didn't happen. If he'd stayed with the team all year I think he'd have been long gone by the time this pick rolled around. Those personal reasons are cause for concern but I would hope that the Texans checked that out.
We get this man some BBQ and make him room with Wilfork and we got a chance for (like kiwi alluded to) maybe the player Nix might have been/refused to become.
His dad passed away and he needed time. If that's not a good reason to miss some time, I don't know what is. Hopefully now 2 years later his head is clear and he is ready to honor the man that taught him everything.
I like the fact that he also tried to play baseball for Clemson. It tells me that he loves sports, and he's not just in it for a scholarship or paycheck.
YOUNG talented player who has his best years ahead of him. If Wilfork can impart some knowledge on the youngster he will turn out to be a steal for the good guys.
An amazing must-read story!
D.J. Reader learns to overcome grief over his father's death to realize his NFL dream[/QUOT
Great follow up to article I noted at post 11; thanks Doc. I am a big fan of his, the time off bothered me as it was not clarified why he missed games other than "personal". The fact that he was able to return to team was what I held on to. I was really glad to get him as I think he has all to replace Wilfork when time comes. I like the Purdue kid we signed recently as UDFA after the supp. draft. We should have solid future at the Nose for years with cheap contracts. If either don't click, DJ Jones next year should be available day three.
He’ll be a work in progress, for certain...