Playing football or safety weren’t the initial goals for LSU FS Eric Reid, the top safety in the upcoming draft.

In middle school, Reid excelled at soccer and thought that was his thing. A very talented college player, however, changed his mind.

“It’s a funny story,” Reid laughed. “I was very good at soccer. But by my eighth grade year, that’s when Reggie Bush led USC. Originally, I wanted to be like Reggie Bush. He’s the guy who made me want to play football.”

The 6-2, 210-pound Reid arrived at Dutchtown High School (Geismar, La.) as a freshman running back and safety, though he wanted to be the offensive star.  Another talented player changed his future.

“Alabama’s Eddie Lacy was the star running back at my high school,” Reid said. “I knew that position wasn’t going to work for me, so that’s why I switched to safety.”

And that switch proved to be very beneficial. Reid stood out in a star-studded LSU defense the past three seasons, gaining national notice when he pulled down an acrobatic, goal line interception in the fourth quarter against No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 5, 2011.

He amassed an impressive 76 tackles and two interceptions in 2011, gaining second-team All-SEC honors. Reid had an even better 2012 campaign, with 91 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions to make first-team All-American. 

A partial right quad tear during Reid’s sophomore year was reaggravated in 2012, though he played through it. “It’s completely healthy now and not a problem,” he said.  

The 21-year-old Louisiana native played his first two seasons with Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson, Cowboys CB Morris Claiborne and All-American CB Tyrann Mathieu, but he had to adjust to being the leader without their presence his junior year.