Meet Up! Get to know new Browns LB Winston Reid

There is an opening for a starting outside linebacker

When the Cleveland Browns went into the off-season, five of their linebackers were no longer under contract. With this many, one who expect that a few are starters, which was true. Two of three positions were now vacant with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah the only one still under contract.

During the NFL draft, GM Andrew Berry selected LB Nathaniel Watson in the sixth round and then went on to, reportedly, sign LB Winston Reid out of Weber State after the draft. Reid was productive at a smaller school in college.

Beginnings

He grew up in St. George, Utah and went to Copper Hills High School in West Jordan, Utah which has an enrollment of 2,761. The school is situated just east of the Oquirrh Mountains in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley near the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine.

Reid’s parents are Mike and Lau Reid. His father Mike also played football at Weber State. The couple has six children.

So, it was a given that Reid would end up at Weber State. He arrived on campus as a walk-on and was redshirted his freshman year in which the school won the Big Sky Conference title, a school record 11 wins, and two victories in the FCS Playoffs.

So as a sophomore, he played in all 11 games with 36 total tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two QB hits, one batted pass, and one fumble recovery.

Reid’s junior year he exploded. He was elected captain. He had 112 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, four sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, seven pressures, and six QB hits. Weber State won their second consecutive conference title as Reid was named First Team All-Big Sky Conference.

Plus, he was named to the FCS All-American Team.

In his senior year, Reid had his best statistical season with 118 total tackles which led the conference and was eighth in the nation, had 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, one touchdown, 12 QB hits, and nine pressures. He was named to his second consecutive First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors as Weber State captured their third straight conference title.

Reid was also selected to his second FCS College Football All-America Team.

When Reid’s college career was completed, he had the fifth more solo tackles in Weber State University history. As a Wildcat, Reid has posted 163 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and one touchdown.

He was invited to the Hula Bowl.

Pro Day results:

Hand: 10”

Arm: 31 3/4”

Wingspan: 76 3/8”

40-yard dash: 4.61

20-yard shuttle: 4.38

3-cone: 7.32

225-pound bench press: 33 times

Vertical jump: 33 1/2”

Broad jump: 10’-0”

What should Browns fans expect from Reid?

For starters, Reid will be 25 years old during training camp so he is an older prospect than what is normally in camp. T

(Editor’s note: Reid’s analysis begins at the 49:07 mark)

Reid was a productive player at Weber State who had 230 tackles his final two college seasons, was named consecutive First Team All-Conference nods and earned a spot on the FCS All-American team twice. He’s a high-IQ player who diagnoses plays on a fairly high level and has extensive special teams experience.

He is dripping with production and is a talented defender. He has the finishing ability to play on the outside with enough athletic traits to develop into an every-down player.

Reid is the kind of player who had high production and could make the roster the same as Mohamoud Diabate did last year, play a lot of special teams, learn from veterans, or keep around on the practice squad.

Jordan Hicks will be the inside linebacker with JOK at the WILL. That leaves the SAM linebacker position up for grabs and will have competition from Tony Fields, Diabate, Caleb Johnson, Bookie Watson, and Devin Bush. Reid will compete as well.

He is a player that fans will root for and deserves a shot of making the final roster.

WHY HE COULD SUCCEED:

Reid is instinctive and can quickly diagnose plays to decide if it is a run or a passing down. He is a high-energy athlete player who can square up into his tackles. Plays through the hands at the catch point. Excellent when called to blitz and can provide a finish on the quarterback. Short-area quickness to avoid incoming blockers.

WHY HE COULD FAIL:

His coverage instincts can vary depending on the down. His weight isn’t an issue, but his shorter build can be at times against taller tight ends.