Impressive 2021 All-State North Carolina QB Ethan Reid Still Weighing Recruiting Options
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
College coaches are not the only ones waiting on a 2020 high school football season in North Carolina, that holds especially true for many seniors in the Tar Heel state across the board. One in particular is 2021 gunslinger Ethan Reid. The 6-4, 225-pound, standout picked apart defenses at a prolific rate in 2019 earning All-State and Big South Player of the Year honors after throwing for 3,035 yards with 44 touchdowns while rushing for 11 additional scores. Four offers have been dropped with many more showing interest – all just want to see that senior tape.
With Kings Mountain ready to begin their 2020 season on Feb. 26, Reid dropped a line into the RNG Lab for a detailed one on one covering his offseason workouts with insight on his recruiting process.
Interview
Ethan, you tore it up during your junior season earning first team All-State honors. What offense were you executing for the Mountaineers in 2019?
A Spread offense based off 10- and 11-personnel. We did a lot of RPO and taking shots down the field.
Looks like you guys were airing it out a lot in 2019, what routes were your receivers running?
RPO slants, RPO outs, double moves, and go routes.
What were some of the coverages you were seeing?
A lot of Cover 1 and Cover 3. We saw a lot of one-high safety. Anytime we saw two-high, we’d run the ball a lot. We saw a lot of corners playing off our receivers.
You were picking and choosing your time to run in a really smart way coming up with 11 rushing scores. How would you describe your running abilities as a quarterback?
I feel like it has grown tremendously even from last year. I can get up the field, make one move and take it all the way. To make clear, I am not a Lamar Jackson type of runner but I can get downfield.
When you went into the offseason, what did you focus on improving?
First off, the most important was speed and agility. With my throwing, getting more accurate and increasing my arm strength.
What have you been doing to increase your football IQ as a quarterback?
I have been watching a lot of film, working with a lot of guys seeing coverages, YouTube videos, and working with my coach. I am way ahead of last year on the IQ part.
Putting it all together, where are you seeing the biggest improvements in your overall talents?
I have 10 to 15 more yards on my deep ball, I am faster, quicker, and stronger than last year. I am throwing off different platforms and with different arm angles getting the ball out on time and out quick.
What kind of offense will you be executing when the 2020 season gets going? Are you running the same attack or mixing it up some?
We are running the same Spread offense, but I will run it more this year. You can expect more deep outs and deep comebacks.
Have you been playing 7v7 this winter?
I played last winter; it has been shut down. We’ve been doing workouts for eight months off and on.
What about camps? Have you been able to attend any camps?
Those were shut down as well. I was supposed to go to Under Armour, Rivals Three Stripe, and college camps, but they were all shut down. That really hurt my recruiting process.
What is the 2020 season status for you and the team?
Our first game is on Feb. 26. We are scheduled to have seven regular season games. The goal is to play 11, four in the playoffs.
Once the season kicks off, what are you ready to showcase with your skills to the fans and college coaches after all this hard work in the extended offseason?
I want to show how talented I am and win a state championship, I feel like we can do it.
Let’s get into recruiting. Which schools are showing interest waiting on your senior season to begin?
Chattanooga, Southern Miss, William & Mary, Georgia State, FIU, ECU, South Alabama, UConn, and Ole Miss.
I know you have an offer from Appalachian State, which other programs have offered?
Akron, Bryant (RI), VMI, and App State have all offered me.
Nice. Going into the classroom. What is your cumulative GPA?
A 3.63.
What is something college coaches don’t know about you that they should?
That I am a great leader, a hard worker, and humble. And that I am a guy that can win a lot of games for you and do it at a high level.
Perfect. Ethan, thanks for your time today. Wishing you and the Mountaineers a successful season until we talk again.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Reid family; Ethan Reid