Eric Reid: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Louisiana State FS

Eric Reid has decided not to patrol the field for LSU's defense in 2013. The All-American free safety has made himself eligible for the 2013 NFL draft.

Reid is considered one of the top defensive backs in the draft and will be taken no later than the second round.

Let's take a closer look at Eric Reid.

Background

Birthday: December 10, 1991

Hometown: Geismar, Louisiana

High School: Dutchtown

Major: Business Administration

Year: Junior

Reid was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana.  The mascot for Dutchtown is the griffin, a mythical creature with the head, wings and front talons of an eagle, and the body and tail of a lion.

Statistics

In 2012, Eric Reid was named an All-American by ESPN, ESPN.com and Scout.com.  Reid showed yearly progression in tackles and passes defended.

YEAR	SCHOOL	SOLO	ASSIST	TOTAL	LOSS	SACK	INT	PD	FF	FR	TD
2010	LSU	14	18	32	1.5	0	2	3	0	0	0
2011	LSU	53	23	76	2	0	2	5	2	1	0
2012	LSU	42	49	91	1	0	2	9	0	0	0

LOSS = Tackles for a loss

PD = Passes Defended

FF = Forced Fumbles

FR = Fumbles Recovered

TD = Defensive Touchdowns scored

Numbers obtained from Sports-Reference.com

Draft Process

Measurables

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 213 lbs.

Arm Length: 33 5/8"

Hand Size: 10"

Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.53 sec

Bench press: 17 reps

Vertical jump: 40.5 inch

Broad jump: 134 inch

3-cone drill: 6.99 sec

20-yard shuttle: 4.22 sec

Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds

At the NFL combine, Reid was a top performer among safeties in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and broad jump.

Combine results courtesy of NFL.com

Pro day results courtesy of LSUSports.net

Interesting Facts

Eric Reid's father also attended LSU and was the NCAA champion in the 110-meter hurdles in 1987.  Reid's father still holds the university's record in this event (13.5 seconds) and is in the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Reid was arguably the top high school recruit out of Louisiana in 2010 and always dreamed of playing for LSU.  Reid chose LSU over Tennessee, Stanford, North Carolina State and Tulane.

Reid is a fan of the New Orleans Saints, and in high school, his favorite NFL player was LaRon Landry.

Observations

Eric Reid's stock is rising rapidly.  NFL Network's Bucky Brooks believes Reid will be "a star as a rookie starter."

Reid is freakishly athletic but is often overly aggressive.  The ex-Tiger's play as a junior was not as good as anticipated after his strong sophomore campaign.  Regardless, Reid has the skills to succeed in the NFL.

On NFL.com, the mock drafts by Matt Smith, Charles Davis, Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks all have Reid drafted in the first round.