On the field Greg Reid was among the most dangerous kick returners in college football and part of one of the nation’s top defensive backfields.
The three-year starter recorded 120 tackles and intercepted 7 passes over his first three seasons. Reid also returned one punt for a touchdown in each of those years.
As a sophomore Reid was named Defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. He also established a school record with 742 kickoff return yards for the season and set a single-game record with 193 kickoff return yards against North Carolina. In 11 games last season Reid totaled 32 tackles to go along with 2 interceptions and moved into second place on the school’s all-time punt return yardage list with 1,117.
Away from the field Reid was no stranger to trouble during his time in Tallahassee. He was suspended for the season opener last year for violating team rules. Reid was arrested last fall on perjury charges, which were later dropped. Most recently, the defensive back was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and was driving on a suspended license last month.
Heading into the 2012 season Greg Reid was just 313 yards away from passing Deion Sanders’ school record for punt return yards. He won’t have the opportunity to do so as head coach Jimbo Fisher announced Reid has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.
The loss of Reid will be a big one on special teams, but perhaps not as big in the secondary. Florida State still has Xavier Rhodes, who has established himself as one of the better corners in not only the ACC but the country and Lamarcus Joyner at safety. Both are on the preseason watch list for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.
