| |||||||||||||||||||
Rico's younger brother, Mario, is a starting linebacker/defensive end at Minnesota.
2004 (Jr.): Played in all 11 games starting eight ... Led the team with three fumble recoveries, which ranked second in the Southern Conference (0.27 recoveries/game) ... Logged 29 tackles on the season, including five for losses ... Helped WCU ranking 12th nationally in total defense (301.91 yards/game), the school's highest ever national rank at season's end ... Logged a season-high five tackles, including one for a loss, in Western's impressive defensive performance versus Nicholls State ... Recovered a fumble at Alabama ... Credited with four stops at Gardner-Webb and Wofford ... Intercepted a pass at Elon and returned it 18 for his first career touchdown, which proved to be the game winner in the Cats' 28-7 win.
2003 (So.): Played in all 12 games, serving as the top defensive end reserve behind All-SoCon picks Nick McNeil and Michale Spicer ... Was 10th on the team in total hits with 34 ... Had seven tackles for losses, including two sacks ... Added an interception, a pass break up, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... Logged his first career start at Georgia Southern, taking the spot from McNeil ... Took advantage of his first start by collecting a career-high eight tackles, including six solo starts, with a TFL ... Had impressive back-to-back games versus Johnson C, Smith and The Citadel ... Played a key role in allowing JC Smith to minus 23 net rushing yards as he logged four tackles, including two for losses and a sack ... Also was credited with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... The next week, before a regional television audience versus The Citadel, he had five tackles, including three for losses ... Had a key 12-yard sack and later recorded his first career interception.
2002 (RFr.): Played in all 11 games, serving as a primary back up to All-SoCon defensive ends Michale Spicer and Nick McNeil ... Tallied four stops in the West Virginia Tech game ... Two games later, recorded a season-high five tackles versus East Tennessee State ... Had two stops each versus Auburn, Furman and Wofford. 2001 (Fr.): Redshirted.
Prior to Western: Led Pebblebrook HS in sacks as a sophomore (eight), junior (10) and senior (seven) ... Selected second team all-county as a senior ... Named his team's Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman and received the Coach's Award ... Ranked second on the team in total tackles (64) ... Helped his team to a 10-1 mark and the region title as a senior ... Was a member of his school's student leadership team.
Rico Reese's Career Defensive Statistics
Blkd
G UT AT Tot. TFL-Yds Sacks-Yds INT PBU FR FF Kick
2002 11 12 4 16 0-0 0.0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
2003 12 18 16 34 7-24 2.0-13 1-0 1 1 1 0
2004 11 17 12 29 5-12 0.0-0 1-18* 1 3 0 0
Totals 34 40 30 70 12-36 2.0-13 2-18 2 4 1 0
* - Returned interception 18 yards for a touchdown at Elon.
