Interview: 2020 Tennessee ATH Reggie Grimes Talks Football and Being a 5-Star Recruit

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

The 2018 football campaign for Mount Juliet was a dream season going 12-1 defying odds with a three-game run into the 6A Tennessee playoffs. The Golden Bears were consistently overlooked with local media predicting a first and second round exodus. The Nashville area squad was the only team to give eventual state champs Oakland a run for their money, falling gallantly 14-7, while the Patriots ran rough over everyone else, including taking down Whitehaven 37-0 in the championship game. One of the keys to success for the Bears was five-star outside linebacker/end and running back Reggie Grimes.

Grimes has caught the attention of college coaches across the country with his play leading to 18 offers. The future is uncertain per position, but regardless is very bright for the 6-3.5, 220-pound, athlete with teams recruiting him to play both sides of the rock, just as long as they have him on the roster. The teams lining up hoping for a chance to sign him to their 2020 class includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, Memphis, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Pitt, Tulane, Purdue, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Virginia, South Carolina, and Oregon.

In an RNG exclusive interview, I sat down with Grimes covering his junior season on the field and life as a five-star recruit.

Interview

Reggie, the Bears had a tremendous season giving eventual state champ Oakland their only scare in the 2018 playoffs (14-7). What was the playoff run like for you taking on some very good teams?

“We were projected to lose in first, second, and third round. It drove all of us to go harder in practice. The papers, they thought we would lose badly to teams that could not play with us. I was upset about that. We wanted to go out to show we are legit. I feel like we showed them. We showed we could have won state.”

You have a unique role on the Bears defense as an outside linebacker-end-rover kind of hybrid. How would you describe your role within the defensive scheme and what are your responsibilities from one play to the next?

“It depends on what the coaches give me to do. On a running down, I am over the tight end to make sure he does not get off. I make the edge wider so the running back cannot get around me and has to run out of bounds or cut it back inside. Either I make the tackle or someone else does. On passing situations, sometimes I drop back or I rush the passer.”

Of all the things you do on the field, which areas of your game saw the biggest growth last season?

“My pass rush improved. At the running back spot, my vision and making the right decisions with my cuts improved.”

Which game last season was your best, and why do you consider it to be your best?

“That is a good question. Defensively, my best was against Blackman (Murfreesboro). They ran right at me. They wanted to see if I was true. I made the plays. We were holding them to a three and out. And forced them into passing situations. It was either me or the guy on the other side making plays on the quarterback. In the Rossview game, they could not stop any of our backs. We won a lot of games through our defense last season. Our offense got that one.”

Offensively, what do you feel are the strengths of your game?

“I am fast with a long stride, I am strong and powerful, and I can get low. If I get to the second level it is a touchdown.”

You do so much on the field in different roles and positions, of them all which is your favorite position to play?

“I don’t have one. I am indifferent. I am being recruited to play both. I have no problem running the ball in college or playing defense.”

What are you working on this offseason to fine-tune before your senior year?

“Covering is an area I need to improve. I have not done it a lot. On offense, it is more reworking my technique, improving my hands, picking up blocks, and working on my agility.”

Are you going to showcase your skills at any national camps this offseason?

“Yes. I am going to the Nike Opening in May in Nashville.”

Are you playing on a travel 7v7 team this spring?

“Yes. I am playing with CBA, College Bound Athletics. I know we are traveling to Atlanta and Knoxville for a couple of tournaments.”

Going into recruiting how many offers do you have now?

“I have 18 offers.”

Which schools were the last couple to offer?

“Oregon offered today (Jan. 15) and UVA (Virginia) offered yesterday.”

Are there any schools showing interest but have not offered?

“Florida and Miami are showing interest but have not offered.”

Did you get a chance to take any unofficial visits during the season?

“Yes. I visited UT (Tennessee), Ohio State, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, and Alabama.”

How did the Bama visit go?

“It was a good visit. I camped there, toured the facilities and then we left after I met with Coach (Nick) Saban (head coach). We talked for a little while. That conversation impacted me on how I see football and life after football.”

I have to ask, what did Coach Saban say that impacted you so deeply?

“He offered me and then said ‘don’t mess it up.’ He told me to take football out of the equation and asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I told him I want to be a mechanical engineer. We then went and met some of the engineering guys on team. Life after football is important. Coach Saban asked me, ‘if something happens where I cannot play football, what would you do?’ I told him I would get an academic scholarship and pursue my degree. My plan is to graduate college in 3.5 years. We talked about that for a while.”

For the home fans, how did the Tennessee visit go?

“It was good. We went up there in the summer. I brought some of my family with me. We went on a tour. Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt (head coach) was excited to have me there. You can see the changes they are making with the program. I think they will be there, where they want to be, in the next two to three years. I feel like they will be legit in a few years.”

Do you have any planned visits you may take upcoming?

“We are still working the schedule. Nothing is definite yet.”

Being the highly recruited player that you are, is it challenging for you getting opinions from different people telling you where you should go to school for college and play ball?

“Not really. Not at all. Everyone projects me to Alabama because my parents went there. That is what they all assume. That might be the case, but I want to distance myself from my parents. No matter where I go, I want the people there to know me for me, not for my parents. I am respectful when the fans tell me where I should go. There is no point in bashing them. If someone does not like me for college choice, they do not know me.”

Well said. Are you competing in any other sports for Mount Juliet?

“Yes. Basketball and track.”

How is basketball going?

“It is going pretty good. We are 17-1.”

My follow up question. Have you gotten a poster dunk on anyone yet this season?

“None yet, but I have dunked a few times.”

With track, which events are your events?

“The 4×1, 200 – that is my event, and the long jump.”

Nice. Alright, some fun questions to wrap up. Given all the chaos you bring to the opposition’s backfield, did any of the opposing players ever say anything funny to you to try to throw you off your game?

“Yes. One time, in the Station Camp game in Week 9. It was a passing situation for them. Their QB rolled the opposite way and I was chasing him down. As he rolled and threw, I pulled up and did not hit him. It was an incomplete pass, but when the play was over he said ‘I almost got sacked by a five-star.’ Him glorifying me that way. I turned it around because he is a good QB. I said to him, “I wish we were on the same team so I could go against you every day.”

Are you a talker to the other team on the field?

“Not usually. If I talk, it is because someone talked to me first. I let my game do the talking.”

What is your pre-game ritual to get your mind right before you take the field?

“What I usually do, after school we go to the locker room. I sleep in my locker with my head phones on. I don’t like to be bothered before a game. I wake up about 30 minutes before our pregame meal. I stretch in the weight room, watch some film to refocus, and if I have questions, I ask the coaches. Then we go to chapel and then go to our walk-through. After that, I get dressed and get taped. The skill guys go out early, then we do our warmups, and go to locker room. I pray before we go through the banner and I am usually the last one out of the banner.”

You touched on this a minute ago and I asked you about it in a roundabout way previously. Given your five-star status I am assuming you are treated differently, good and bad. What is that like for you?

“I am a normal person. I don’t like being treated different because I am an athlete. Take away the athletics and that is what I am.”

Reggie, it was great going in-depth with you today. I appreciate your time and candor.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Grimes family; Reggie Grimes (second left) at Tennessee