Meet the freshmen: RS year, spot on developmental squad among options for Reader

D.J. Reader

6-3, 335, Infielder

Grimsley High, Greensboro, N.C.

He came to Clemson with the promise of being allowed to give baseball a whirl, and he's progressed well during the past three weeks.

Jack Leggett says the big defensive tackle isn't quite ready for on-field action, however, and says he's still exploring options either for Reader to redshirt as a freshman or to work on the Tigers' developmental squad.

Given Reader's likely inactive status, Leggett and head football coach Dabo Swinney will have to make a decision concerning Reader's spring, as he's a mainstay in the Tigers' lineup mix at defensive tackle.

After watching Reader work both as a pitcher and infielder, Leggett believes Reader has the potential to help the Tigers as a hitter. He praised him last month for his loose hands and improvement in putting the bat on the ball, after playing hardly any baseball since his junior season in high school. Reader homered in one of Clemson's scrimmage games last week.

In high school, the versatile Reader was a four-year letterman in football, baseball and basketball.

Accomplishments

Football (2012)

Had 40 tackles, three quarterback pressures, and one pass breakup in 236 snaps over 13 games ... averaged one tackle every 5.9 snaps, one of the best figures on the team ... had two tackles in six snaps against #25 Auburn at Atlanta, GA on Sept. 1; it was his first career game ... had seven tackles in 27 snaps against Virginia Tech on Oct. 20 ... had three tackles in seven snaps against #7 Louisiana State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31.

Before Clemson

• All-conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior

• All-region as a junior and senior

• Team MVP as a junior and senior

• Batted .529 as a junior

• Defensive tackle on the 2012 Clemson football team

• #19 offensive guard in the nation and #20 player in North Carolina by Rivals.com

• #20 offensive guard in then nation by Scout.com

• #58 offensive guard in the nation and #27 player in North Carolina by ESPN.com

• #41 defensive lineman in the nation and #8 player in North Carolina by SuperPrep

• SuperPrep All-American

• Had 50 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and five sacks as a senior

• Starting center on the basketball team

• Lettered four times in football, four times in baseball, and four times in basketball

• Coached by Jason Simmons at Grimsley High School

• His mother, Felicia, played softball at North Carolina A&T from 1985-88

• His uncle, Glenn Ford, played football at Tennessee from 1978-80

• Majoring in communication studies

• Born David Vernon Reader, Jr. on July 1, 1994 in Greensboro, NC