Troy Reeder was one of the top high school football recruits in the state of Delaware.  He won the 2013 state Defensive Player of the Year Award.  Reeder opted to take his talents to “Linebacker U,” Penn State.  He redshirted the 2014 season.  His play in 2015 was good enough to be named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.  Reeder changed course and opted to return to the First State and continue his career at the school that produced his father and had secured a commitment from his brother, the University of Delaware.  Following the Blue Hens “Down State Day” at Smyrna High School, Reeder gave his thoughts on the transfer decision and the upcoming season.

Pencek: You have a different uniform compared to the one you were wearing last spring.

Reeder: To me it does not feel quite as wierd because I’ve been around it so long. I spent a lot of my life picturing myself in this uniform.  It feels right

Growing up, I had on Delaware helmet in my basement.  My brother and I used to take turns running with it.

Pencek: How is the transition from Penn State to Delaware proceeding?

Reeder: So far it’s been good.  A lot more mentally than physically, but football is football.  Coming out and learning the new system, the terms and the translation more than anything is the biggest adjustment.  It is a fairly similar system but it is a different vocabulary.  It is going well so far.  I love the guys, I love the staff,  and I’ll have my brother here in a couple of months so that will be cool too.

Pencek: Was part of it being closer to home in an area your familiar with?

Reeder: Yes, it was a big part of it.  It was really cool to wake up (on April 16 at Smyrna) and my parents and grandparents are in the stands. My grandparents did not get to come to a single thing at Penn State.  Here they are at spring ball practice.  It’s the kind of stuff that goes beyond football.  It means a lot to me.  It’s a really nice thing to be surrounded by family.  This whole Delaware football community has felt like a family atmosphere.

Pencek: The Delaware defense was a solid unit in 2015, if I can get you to not speak humbly of yourself, does it excite you when you think of bringing your skill set to the 2016 Blue Hens?

Reeder:  Our goal is to be the best defense in the country.  We’re not going to be that humble about it, that’s our goal.  I think it should be the offenses goal to be the best offense in the country.  I think we have a lot of potential this year.  I like what I have seen so far and I think the coaches are happy with what they have seen.  They did have a good year last year.  We have to keep building on that.