2022 LB Tre Reader Living Out Dream with Notre Dame Commitment
2022 Berkeley Prep (Fla.) linebacker Tre Reader was patient.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder always held Notre Dame in high regard as his younger brother, Troy, had committed to the Fighting Irish baseball program almost two years ago, but in January, Reader got his opportunity.
Notre Dame had been working with Reader on a preferred walk-on spot and the star aligned and the Florida native wasted little time making his decision as he committed to the Irish on Monday.
"The place itself is really what sold me,” Reader told ISD. “It's just a special opportunity and a special place to be right now, especially with everything that's happening in the football program. The opportunity to be part of the student body and the connections you can make, you can't turn that down."
Reader admitted there was some relief once he made the final call as he held scholarship offers from Columbia, Fordham and Stetson along with a preferred walk-on spot at Michigan.
"I instantly knew once I made this decision, it was the right fit for me,” stated Reader. “It was a really stressful week weighing all my options with two opportunities like Michigan and Notre Dame and some of the smaller schools on me. It was a difficult decision, but at the end of the day, my heart was in South Bend and that was the place for me as a person."
The Reader family wasn’t surprised Notre Dame was the choice, but it was a special moment for the family when the Berkeley Prep star told his parents.
"They were obviously pumped,” laughed Reader. “Both my parents were absolutely ecstatic. To have the chance to have both their kids not only go to college together, but playing Divison I sports at the same school - they were both really happy."
Head coach Marcus Freeman wants his team to ‘Challenge Everything’ and Reader will do exactly that when he steps foot on campus as he wants to win a National Title.
"I told him the opportunity this place provides as far as a chance to win a National Title is a real thing and I wanted to be part of it,” Reader said of his conversation with Freeman. “A place like Notre Dame, it really just means a little more there.
"I told him I don't know if my role will be a special teams guy or every once in a while a linebacker or work my way into a starting role, but I want to do whatever I can do to help this team win a National Championship - no matter how big or small it is. I want to contribute and help this team take a step forward to win a championship."
Reader is wasting little time getting to work as he'll start Notre Dame’s workout plan the day it comes.
"They're going to send me a packet with lifts to do,” said Reader. “I really do enjoy lifting a lot. Our linebackers coach at Berkeley is actually a personal trainer, so a lot of guys on the team train with him six days a week.
"Me and my buddy are going out later today to run some gassers. I'm excited and I'm going to do everything I can to be ready for camp."