Trainer | 2020 OL Reece Atteberry Nasty, Coachable, Really Good
Matt McChesney has had an up-close view of Reece Atteberry’s development and the owner of Six Zero Strength & Fitness Academy likes what he’s seen.
“Reece is nasty,” McChesney says of Atteberry, a 2020 Colorado offensive lineman. “Not like telephone tough guy nasty. He doesn’t even need to say anything. He’s a really violent football player and I love that.
“He’s been with me for four years. He’s never shied away from a challenge in his life.”
The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder from Auroa will be in South Bend this weekend for Notre Dame’s Junior Day.
He has an offer from the Irish along with offers from schools like Colorado, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oklahoma, Miami, USC, Oregon and Duke among several others.
“I sat in the office with him the day he got his first offer and now he’s sitting on damn near 30,” says McChesney, who spent five years in the NFL playing offensive and defensive line after a successful college career at Colorado.
“I don’t really think he’s offer-seeking, I think he’s just really good. He’s the number one player in the state of Colorado, not that really means anything.”
Atteberry’s work with McChesney over the years has paid off.
“Reece has been pushing himself with the older group since the day he walked in,” says McChesney. “All of his boys are leaving.”
Atteberry worked with 2019 Colorado offensive line signees like Jake Wiley and Austin Justin along with Stanford signees Drake Nugent and Barrett Miller for years. Now, he will be one of the top players in the gym over the next year along with Colorado offensive line commit Carson Lee and Notre Dame defensive line commit Aidan Keanaaina.
“All of these guys have been running together and training together for so long and feeding off each other for so long,” McChesney says. “The intensity level in the room is through the roof. It maximizes everybody’s opportunity.”
In addition to his physical tools, Atteberry has the attitude to succeed, according to McChesney.
“Every single time that we sit down and evaluate; ‘We need to fix your hip flexibility.’ Fixed,” he says. “‘We need to fix your ankle flexibility.’ Fixed.
“‘We need to make sure you’re punching independently and not using both hands all of the time.’ Fixed. ‘You’re moving to center? OK, let’s work on your hips some more. How do you snap correctly? Use your off-hand.’ He’s very easy to coach because he has no ego.”
McChesney believes the Eaglecrest High School standout will be ready to play early in his college career.
“I think Reese is going to walk in ready to play wherever he goes. He’ll probably want to redshirt because that’s who he is. He’ll probably be like, ‘Hey, if you need me to play, Coach, I can play and I’ll be fine and ready. But if I have to redshirt, I’ll be the best scout player you have and I’ll be ready to play and start as a redshirt freshman.’”