Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Location Was Key In Reese's Recruitment
September 28, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – There's a mantra in the real estate industry of "location, location, location".
For offensive lineman Albert Reese IV, location was a big reason why he was not on many recruiting radars following his junior year of high school.
At 6-foot-7 and nearly 300-pounds at the time, Reese certainly had the physical attributes of a top prospect but his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta is not exactly a place college coaches pass through regularly on the recruiting trail.
Clearwater Academy International, however, specializes in assisting Canadian athletes like Reese to receive the recruiting recognition that is sometimes lacking in the Great White North. So in the spring of 2020 at 17 years old, Reese left home and moved to Florida to pursue his football dreams.
"I decided to go down because I wasn't getting any looks in Canada because it's harder for a number of reasons," Reese said. "I made the move down there and got recruited."
Reese received nearly two dozen offers due to his newfound exposure and quickly committed to Rutgers after arriving at Clearwater Academy International. But last December - just two weeks before he was set to sign his national letter of intent – Reese received a scholarship offer from Mississippi State that changed his outlook.
He flipped his commitment to the Bulldogs just three days after their offer and was soon on his way to Starkville as an early high school graduate.
"I really liked the phone calls that I had in a really short amount of time," Reese said. "And I really liked this region of the (United) States because more people love football around here than the North I find. I really like the culture in that aspect so those were two of the factors."
Reese enrolled at MSU in January and was able to get a jump start on his college career by going through spring practices and endured eight months of strength and conditioning before beginning his first fall camp.
"It was a great advantage, especially when it came to summer training because I was able to be with the older guys," Reese said. "Normally, I'd have been with the new freshmen doing a different lift but I got to continue training with the older guys. That was the biggest advantage besides just learning how things go around here."
Reese played right guard in the spring but has since switched to right tackle. The now 315-pounder is currently listed as the Bulldogs' backup behind graduate Scott Lashley and is trying to learn as many positions on the line as possible.
"It's about versatility and flexibility so I can help the team in multiple ways," Reese said. "They like to play guys at multiple positions so that if somebody goes down for whatever reason, it's not catastrophic. They'll have a guy that kind of knows what he's doing at least and can fill in."
Reese is still waiting to make his collegiate debut and is using this time to make sure he is prepared as he can be whenever his number is called.
"I'm just trying to get better every day," Reese said. "I feel myself adapting well. I feel myself improving because of the high expectations that are held here. I've been very happy and it's been a great experience down here. I've come such a long way."
For offensive lineman Albert Reese IV, location was a big reason why he was not on many recruiting radars following his junior year of high school.
At 6-foot-7 and nearly 300-pounds at the time, Reese certainly had the physical attributes of a top prospect but his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta is not exactly a place college coaches pass through regularly on the recruiting trail.
Clearwater Academy International, however, specializes in assisting Canadian athletes like Reese to receive the recruiting recognition that is sometimes lacking in the Great White North. So in the spring of 2020 at 17 years old, Reese left home and moved to Florida to pursue his football dreams.
"I decided to go down because I wasn't getting any looks in Canada because it's harder for a number of reasons," Reese said. "I made the move down there and got recruited."
Reese received nearly two dozen offers due to his newfound exposure and quickly committed to Rutgers after arriving at Clearwater Academy International. But last December - just two weeks before he was set to sign his national letter of intent – Reese received a scholarship offer from Mississippi State that changed his outlook.
He flipped his commitment to the Bulldogs just three days after their offer and was soon on his way to Starkville as an early high school graduate.
"I really liked the phone calls that I had in a really short amount of time," Reese said. "And I really liked this region of the (United) States because more people love football around here than the North I find. I really like the culture in that aspect so those were two of the factors."
Reese enrolled at MSU in January and was able to get a jump start on his college career by going through spring practices and endured eight months of strength and conditioning before beginning his first fall camp.
"It was a great advantage, especially when it came to summer training because I was able to be with the older guys," Reese said. "Normally, I'd have been with the new freshmen doing a different lift but I got to continue training with the older guys. That was the biggest advantage besides just learning how things go around here."
Reese played right guard in the spring but has since switched to right tackle. The now 315-pounder is currently listed as the Bulldogs' backup behind graduate Scott Lashley and is trying to learn as many positions on the line as possible.
"It's about versatility and flexibility so I can help the team in multiple ways," Reese said. "They like to play guys at multiple positions so that if somebody goes down for whatever reason, it's not catastrophic. They'll have a guy that kind of knows what he's doing at least and can fill in."
Reese is still waiting to make his collegiate debut and is using this time to make sure he is prepared as he can be whenever his number is called.
"I'm just trying to get better every day," Reese said. "I feel myself adapting well. I feel myself improving because of the high expectations that are held here. I've been very happy and it's been a great experience down here. I've come such a long way."
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