Reggie Grimes has talked about a number of instances that he initially needed to play for Clemson throughout his recruitment.
Now, heading into his junior season, Grimes has discovered his residence in Norman and is being coached by the majority of the Tigers’ defensive teaching employees.
Grimes was drawn to the concept of taking part in for the then-Clemson defensive coordinator and line of defense coach. The pairing was extensively considered among the best defensive duos in school soccer. Ultimately, all of it labored out in his favor, as he’s now studying from each.
“Coach Venables is the kind of guy that you would love to play for,” Grimes said. “It’s a privilege to play for someone who’s been held in such a high regard defensively. The fact that he’s now my head coach, I love it. He’s a defensive minded guy, he knows everything that goes on on the defense.”
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive finish is a prototypical subsequent stage defensive linemen that Todd Bates and Brent Venables have turn into identified for. He has all of the bodily and athletic instruments with an opportunity to place it collectively on the sector quickly.
The teaching employees has been complimentary of Grimes’ offseason development. His work within the weight room and on the sector was on show Monday when the primary official depth chart was launched. Grimes was listed as a starter defensive finish alongside sophomore Ethan Downs.
Despite his youth, Grimes is able to take the following step as a frontrunner for the Oklahoma protection.
“Definitely a lot of changes,” Grimes mentioned. “I went from being one of the youngest guys to one of the oldest like that. It’s now more of a leadership role, and with leadership comes confidence. You have to be decisive as a leader in order to lead the younger guys.”
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The Antioch, TN, product has proven flashes of greatness in restricted area time up so far. Last season, Grimes had a productive sophomore marketing campaign, registering 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks.
While Oklahoma is bound to make use of a rotation, Grimes was named the starter over different gifted, skilled members on the line of defense. He was capable of separate himself from the remainder of unit due to dedication within the spring and summer time.
The Sooners have had variety of current defensive linemen graduate to the NFL, with Nik Bonitto being the newest rusher off the sting. Grimes and Bonitto are totally different gamers on the sector, however the impression stage might probably be the identical. If Grimes can have main manufacturing on the sector in 2022, he appears in line to be one in every of Oklahoma’s subsequent defensive ends chosen within the NFL Draft.
“As far as people seeing me as ‘the next’ defense end, I relish it and I can’t wait,” Grimes mentioned. “It’s an opportunity that I’m blessed to have. It’s an honor and a privilege to be an Oklahoma Sooner.”
The gamers and coaches expect huge issues out of the new-look protection, and may have an opportunity to showcase it quickly. Grimes and the Sooners will take the sector for the primary recreation of the Venables period on Saturday in opposition to UTEP.
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story by The Texas Tribune Source link