Former Colonials Reid right at home with Colts
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Any one who took a good look at Darrell Reid when he was an intimidating force on the gridiron at Freehold Borough High School knew that he was destined to play in the National Football League (NFL) some day.

That day has arrived. Reid signed a free agency contract with the Indianapolis Colts and has been impressing his coaches.

Colts head coach Tony Dungy sees Reid and the team’s defensive system as perfect for each other.

“It’s funny how systems just seem to be made for guys to show what they can do,” he said. “Since day one out here in summer school, [Reid] was really impressive playing inside at tackle. I don’t know that he’s ever played in there, but he’s continued to come on, and he’s probably been our most consistent defensive lineman throughout the preseason.

“It’s good to see,” Dungy added. “He’s gotten a chance to start the last two ballgames because of injuries, and he looks right at home out there.”

Reid has been getting reps with the Colts’ first team defense and has been introduced to NFL offenses by going up against the high-flying Colts offense and MVP Peyton Manning every day.

“I’ve been getting extra reps,” the ex-Colonial star said. “It’s tough. It’s the real deal.

“We’re going up against probably the best offense in the NFL day in and day out,” he added. “I’m learning from the best coach [defensive-line coach John Teerlinck]. I couldn’t be in a better situation.”

After an all-state career at Freehold Borough, where he led the Colonials to a last-to-first Cinderella championship season his senior year, Reid went on to star at the University of Minnesota. He was a four-year starter with the Gophers, earning All-Big 10 recognition and winning the Carl Eller Award in 2004 as the team’s defensive MVP. Reid led the Gophers in quarterback sacks (6.5) and tackles-for-loss (15.5), the latter ranked third in the Big 10 Conference. He had 49 tackles, including 37 solo stops.

The Gophers went 7-5 in 2004, winning the Music Bowl against Alabama. It was a school-record, third-straight bowl win for Minnesota. The Gophers had previously won the Motor City Bowl (over Arkansas) and the Sun Bowl (over Oregon).

Over his career in Minnesota, Reid ranks fourth in school history in tackles-for-loss (36) and fourth in quarterback sacks (15). He made 154 career tackles, 112 solo stops.

Reid, a menacing linebacker in high school, proved to be a very versatile football player, playing three different positions at Minnesota. He started out as a linebacker, was moved to defensive tackle, and in his senior year, played defensive end. That versatility helped him ink an NFL contract.