Interview: 22-Offer 3-Star 2021 California ATH/WR Bryson Reeves Updates Workouts and Recruiting

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

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During the 2019 California high school football season, when Bryson Reeves took the gridiron St. Francis High School knew they were going to get close to 100 receiving yards and a score from him. But the 6-3, 195-pound, Class of 2021 standout was more than his 58 receptions for 995 yards with 10 scores, he was a three-way impact player relishing the challenge of taking the field helping his team win. That determination to win and be elite will bolster a college roster next season.

After a sophomore season with 702 yards off 34 receptions with eight touchdowns, all eyes were on Reeves. Beyond his 1,000-yards season as a junior, he carried the rock six times for 42 yards with another trip into the end zone and got after it on defense with 29 stops, 23 solo, a tackle for a loss, a pick, two passes broken up, and a forced fumble and fumble recovery. His influence was felt again on special teams returning 21 punts for 197 yards with yet another score posted on the board and took two kicks back for 62 yards.

After earning first team All-Angelus League and League Offensive MVP honors, the scholarship tally skyrocketed to 22 for the three-star recruit. With the focus on another MVP caliber season for the Golden Knights and National Signing Day approaching, Reeves and I caught up for an informative RNG interview.

Interview

Bryson, the all-around season you put together during the 2019 season was off the charts. Being an impact player in all three phases of the game, when you went into the offseason how did you set up your conditioning program to stay at an elite level while pushing ahead?

It took a few. The first few months of the offseason life was normal. I was doing two-a-days with football and track through March. Once the pandemic hit, it took a week before I found a garage gym that a friend of mine has. After finding that, I went there every day. I started working there every day. I’d lift for a couple of hours and then go on the field to do drills, that was my routine though the summer.

I ended up coaching kids; that was an amazing experience. It is hard putting it to words how amazing it was coaching, 9-, 10-, and 11-year-old kids. Teaching them helped me process everything I am doing, and it helped me refine my game because I had to put into words what they needed to do and start from the basics.

Going back watching my film from last year, I had great stats and numbers, but watching it now, I am thinking I sucked. I played so raw and off athleticism. There was little technique. I was playing from the mindset that I will outrun you. This offseason I was improving the mental and technique parts of my game to be a more complete receiver. I needed that. I dropped playing solely as an athlete but have become an athletic football player.

Going deeper on what you just talked about. After the near 1,000-yard receiving season, what did you focus on over the last few months to increase your skills as a receiver?

It has been a lot of exact technique, slow drills, uphill work, and tip drills. My weight lifting has been more for plyometric as a receiver. I am preparing for more of a complete year. I got bigger, stronger, and faster. Wish I had a track season last spring. I know I would have run a sub-11 in the 100.

Again, going deeper here. How have you prepared your body for the pounding of another big season?

A lot of lifting, power and Olympic lifts. Preparing for the physicality of football, the hits… we get to ramp up in practice before the season. But there is not a day that doesn’t go by with my friends and I where you don’t get hit or you run into something. Playing basketball or running routes, you fall and you get hit. When you compete and go after it, things happen.

Football hits are different, but my body is itching to get back out there. I have been doing a lot of injury prevention workouts focusing on strengthening my knees, back and neck, and ankle.

What drills have you been doing to add more agility, quickness, and breakaway speed?

Normal receiver drills, there are a lot of them. When I was coaching kids, I was with other coaches learning from them. I still have coaches working with me. I have been doing uphill work going left and right and up and back. Same with my DB work; back pedaling, left and right. I have worked to be complete in every little detail of my game and putting it all together – full routes against press, you name it. It has been fun.

Did you get to post a 40 this offseason?

Yes. I ran a laser-timed 4.48.

Very cool. Are you planning on playing defense again in 2020 full-time?

I don’t plan on leaving the field. You know me, I like to play. Special teams – I want to play all of it. I want that same mentality in college. I am a receiver first but I like being on the field at all times. Love being on the field.

At which position on defense will you play this season?

Strong safety and some corner. Last year, I played man on their best athlete. This year we have two corners that can do their job really well, so I’ll be back at safety.

Any changes for you on offense?

We are adding to it a little bit. We have a lot of weapons this season. It will be fun. We have a lot of cool formations. We have two speedy receivers on the outside and a great receiver in the slot and at tight end. It will be fun. We can blow the top off the defense and go underneath.

Is there an aspect to your game that may not get the attention it deserves?

I feel the one part of my game that is never stressed enough is the mental factor. I have done a lot of work to get myself ready mentally to play college football. More than the awareness on the field, but what will happen once I am in college, school work, and the right things to do in college. I am ready for that and I am ready to sacrifice to be great. I am maturing, I still have a lot more to do, but I have done that early because I want to be great. The Carter-Samuels family, they know what it takes to be great. They have helped me prepare.

Let’s get an update on your recruiting. Which schools are showing interest ahead of your senior season?

Vanderbilt’s new coaches are revaluating my film. That will be the school to look out for. Cal has hit me up as well.

How many offers do you have?

I think I have 22.

Reeves Offer Sheet: Boise State, BYU, UC-Davis, Cal-Poly, Colorado State, Columbia, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, Harvard, Hawaii, Idaho, Liberty, Princeton, Rice, Sacramento State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, Vanderbilt, William & Mary, and Yale

Did you get to take any visits over the last few months, if even just to visit a campus for yourself or on an academic tour?

I did some virtual visits, but you don’t get to see the town or meet the people. It is hard for any 2021 recruit to picture themselves at a school if they did not take a pre-COVID visit.

Which programs did you take virtual visits with?

UNLV and Hawaii. I never have to do one at Vanderbilt; I have been to Nashville and know the city. The rest of my virtual meetings were seeing pictures or Facetime calls with coaches.

Are there any visits in a similar fashion you may take coming up?

It all depends on the COVID rules. I plan on visiting Vanderbilt the moment I am allowed to. I have been to Nashville, but not on the campus. It is a big thing for their coaches for the kids to come onto campus. I am planning on visiting there.

Are you going to release a top schools list before you commit?

I’m probably not going to do one. If I do, it will be a week before I commit. I don’t need the flash on Twitter. I have talked to the coaches, they know where I stand.

Bryson, thank you for your time today. Wishing you success with your recruiting process and senior season until we talk again.

Thank you.

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Photo credit: QB Throw Down Camp/Reeves family; Bryson Reeves