Trevor Reilly's draft dream comes true

[F.Chowds]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- On the third day of the NFL draft, Utah linebacker Trevor Reilly was on Fairbanks Country Club golf course in San Diego with his brother A.J. trying to distract himself. He was trying not to think about what it would mean to be drafted at age 26, about what a long shot he was given knee surgery and a two-year mission to Sweden deferring his college football career. 

He was trying not to think about what a quality health insurance plan would mean for his younger daughter Shayn, just a year old but who has already battled kidney cancer into remission. 

Reilly knew he wouldn’t go early in the draft, but as the sixth round drew to a close, Reilly started sweating -- and then his phone died. The brothers got into the golf cart and raced to their car. Reilly connected his phone to the charger, got the draft on the radio and then they waited. 

Then in the seventh round, with the 233th overall pick, the Jets drafted him. 

“It was pandemonium for me and my brother,” Reilly said. 

On Friday, Reilly looked around the Jets' lockerroom. He was older than all the other players at the rookie minicamp, and he spied OL Caleb Schlauderaff's locker -- noting the two played together at Utah. 

“He’s a great fit and I think he’s a bargain in the seventh round,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “He’s a great player with a great skill set.” 

Reilly went too hard in his first practice; he knew it, and more importantly Jets coach Rex Ryan -- who usually lauds players for smashing things -- needed to tell the seventh-round draft pick to back off. 

“Today had to get on him because he went and tagged some guys off a little too hard for our liking,” Ryan said, “but that’s part of it too, these guys learning to practice like a pro.” 

Reilly -- the reddish stubble from his beard blending in with his freckles -- has a lot at stake, and it was hard for him to keep it contained. 

“You get one chance, this is my shot,” he said. 

Reilly reasons that he needed the time on his mission trip to develop if he ever wanted to play in the NFL. He was 185 pounds coming out of high school to sign with Texas Tech, and you can’t play linebacker if that’s all you have on your 6-foot-5 frame. He put on 40 pounds in Sweden "a lot of meat and potatoes, not a lot of flavor -- sorry, Swedes." 

Now listed at weighing 245, Reilly returned and found out the coaching staff at Texas Tech had changed, so he went to the University of Utah as a walk-on, what he calls his third redshirt year. He married his high school sweetheart, Jessica, and settled into family life and football. 

Three years ago, they had their first daughter Nelli, and then Shayn. When their little one was seven months, Jessica noticed something unusual. 

"It was so sudden, it’s not like I had time to prepare for it," Reilly said. "My wife felt a lump on her, took her to the doctor, the next day they took her kidney out." 

Then Shayn began chemotherapy for kidney cancer. She was so small, and the threat was so great. Reilly's voice still quavers when he talks about the months before the doctors told then that Shayn was in remission. 

“When your kids are sick and they’re on the verge of dying, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever been through,” Reilly said. 

And Reilly has been through far more than most 26-year-olds. When he was 13, his six-year-old brother Jett died in a motorcycle accident. Reilly still carries that with him, especially since he and his brothers were given the task of naming their youngest sibling, but it’s different when you feel the full responsibility of a parent for a child, like Reilly did with Shayn. 

“I didn’t graduate from college because of that,” Reilly said. “I had two classes in the summer and I had to take incompletes to deal with my daughter, put my life on hold. 

"I used to think football is so important, school is so important. But when your kids get sick and it’s something serious, it’s like let’s take a step back and see what’s important in my life. And I found out quickly it’s God first and then my family and then everything else after that. 

“That kind of puts it in perspective,” Reilly said. “I’m here doing what I love, but I’m working for my family.” 

There is a versatility to Reilly’s game, which is one of the things the Jets noticed. 

“He’s a smart guy,” Ryan said. “We knew he plays hard. He’s kind of like Garrett McIntyre, just a tough guy and loves to play. Physical, and really fit that profile that we’re looking for. And he plays multiple positions. They played him out in space, they can use him as a rusher, so that’s why we were excited to get him.” 

Whittingham said the game plan for Reilly was different every week. He would play inside linebacker, SAM linebacker or defensive end depending on the opposing scheme. 

“He was the guy we wanted at the point of attack as often as possible,” Whittingham said. 

Reilly played through an injured ACL, initially torn in April 2012 and sewn together that December. When the stitches failed, he had a scope after the 2013 season. He said the injury isn’t something he’s concerned about. 

“I didn’t wear a brace today and didn’t think about it,” Reilly said. 

The Jets are getting a player with a sense of humor -- he said he might go see the irreverent "Book of Mormon" musical on Broadway because, "if you can’t laugh at yourself..." They're getting a guy who can drive a golf ball 400 yards. They're getting a player who lost his wedding ring five times and decided to tattoo his wife’s initials “JKR” onto his ring finger. 

And they are getting a player who might get reprimanded by Ryan for going a little too hard. 

“I think I was more physical than some of the guys would have liked,” Reilly said. “That’s my fault, I’ve got to play with a better sense of awareness around me. It was fun to get out and get around and kind of smack people a little bit. Felt good.” 

In other words, the Jets are getting a guy who should fit right in.

[LAD_Brooklyn]

Deep story. Hope him the best!

[Thai Jet]

Great story. How can you not root for a kid like this ? All the best to him and his family.

[flgreen]

Great Story.

 

Besides that, not only does Rielly have a chance to make the team , but to actually be a contributor.   Thinking 4-5 sacks in a limited part time, pass rusher  situation.    Good 7th round pik

 

GO RANGERS

[Il Mostro]

I know I am not alone in rooting like crazy for Reilly.  

[New York Mick]

Who the **** goes to Sweden on a mission? Unless it's to bang blondes.

[GREENBEAN]

This guy has all the needed perspective to take the proper mental approach to the game. Let's hope that thine body of his can hold up. We really could use a relentless pass rusher.

[faba]

How can you not root for him after hearing his life story

[Villain The Foe]

http://jetsflightdeck.com/2014/05/21/game-tape-trevor-reilly-olb-utah/

 

In the very first “Game Tape” series, where I’ll be breaking down specific plays by New York Jets draft picks, we are going to take a look at Trevor Reilly.  Reilly (6’5″ 245 lbs) was selected as the 18th pick in the 7th round, 233rd overall.

Reilly will be a 26 yr old rookie, and even as a 7th round pick, a lot more will be expected of him because of his age.  He was projected to go a lot higher than the 7th round but fell to the 7th for a few reasons.  I mentioned his age and he also had injury concerns coming out of Utah.  The Jets need depth at the linebacker position and Reilly could find a niche.

Let’s get into it.

Weaknesses

Reilly can be a bit slow off the ball at times.  This is despite having good speed when rushing the passer.  He can also be blocked easy by being pushed up field, very similar to Aaron Maybin, however, Reilly has more bulk than Maybin and can improve his pass-rushing moves, whereas Maybin was more of a one-trick pony.

Here, Reilly lines up at ROLB as he goes up against the left tackle from USC and as long as the tackle keeps him outside, is really no threat.  A spin or swim move inside could really be effective for a guy of Reilly’s speed.

 

In this clip, Reilly is at LOLB against a Stanford rushing play.  Reilly’s size is what stands out here. He’s up against the fullback and isn’t able to get through or past him to make the play.  Reilly can really benefit from an NFL offseason program.

 

Strengths

Speed and quickness.  Reilly can use his speed and athletic ability to get through blockers and lineman alike.  He has played injured (played 2012 on a torn right ACL) and never gives up on the play.  While he has to fine tune some of his pass rush moves, he shows patience in space.  But, his speed rushing the passer is impressive.

Here against USC, Reilly demonstrates a terrific spin move on the left guard and closes on the quarterback for the sack.  An absolutely terrific play by Reilly.

 

In another sack against USC, Reilly once again demonstrates his quickness in an all-out blitz by the defense in being able to reach the QB first for the sack.

 

Bottom Line

There are some concerns but I think Reilly can benefit from Rex Ryan.  He will also benefit from NFL training program.  He needs strength to go with his speed and will need to fine-tune his pass rush moves for the NFL.

He reminds me of Margus Hunt, defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals.  They are both 26.  Both have potential but need to adjust to the NFL in more than a few ways.  Hunt was 25 when drafted in the 2nd round of 2013 by the Bengals.

In short, Reilly is an easy guy to root for and I’ll be following Reilly closely this season.

[CM28]

Who the **** goes to Sweden on a mission? Unless it's to bang blondes.

Hey wait that's not entirely tr....yeah never mind.

I love my country and my blonde fiancée.

[New York Mick]

Hey wait that's not entirely tr....yeah never mind.

I love my country and my blonde fiancée.

Pictures

Of your blonde fiancé not your country.

[JetsFanInDenver]

What happened to the good ole days when our 7th round picks were capable of making the gossip columns in The Post on their very own. Thanks Idzik.

[CM28]

Pictures

Of your blonde fiancé not your country.

Ha! You like huh? Some day maybe. She is a keeper, last year she gave me tickets to the home game vs. pats, so cool and my first live game. This year I got two weeks in Antibes.. I guess I choose girls better than football teams.