'Auburn family' sealed deal for ReedBy Rachel MorandThe Auburn VillagerAcross the nation, Memorial Day is the time to commemorate U.S. soldiers who have fallen during military service. It also serves as the unofficial start to summer. At Auburn, the new coaching staff utilizes the long weekend to host big-name recruits.In what's now known as Big Cat Weekend, about two dozen of some of the nation's most head-turning high school and junior college student-athletes venture to the Plains. As they get to know potential teammates or opponents, the recruits get a feel for what life would be like should they commit to the Tigers.Trovon Reed of Thibodaux, La., was a visitor during the first Big Cat Weekend in 2009. He was being recruited as an athlete by the Tigers, and the weekend offered a chance to get to know if the family atmosphere Auburn classically prides itself on was genuine.While he said every school's coaching staff claims to take care of players like family, Reed did some investigating at Auburn to find out for himself."You have to go behind their backs to talk to the players about how they really treat you," Reed said. "Players will tell you the truth. But here, when I talked to some of the guys that played for Coach Troop (Trooper Taylor), exactly what he told me, they told me. I was like, ‘Well, he can't be lying then.'"Soon after Reed closed out his senior season as the Thibodaux Tigers' starting quarterback, he announced his decision to ink with the Tigers on National Signing Day. His choice to become a Tiger in a different state annoyed some who wanted to see him sign with LSU.But for a number of reasons, Reed was set on Auburn. And now that he is underway in his first college class after reporting in mid-May, he couldn't be happier about his decision."I had to do what's best for me," Reed said. "If I had went to LSU, I would have been going there because everybody else wanted me to go there, not because I wanted to. I wouldn't have been comfortable there. I wanted to be somewhere I would be."Like a lot of young freshman in their first semester of college courses, Reed admitted that he had some nerves and wasn't sure what to expect in his first class."I was waiting for the bell to ring," Reed said. "I got into my first class and there were no pictures on the walls, it was just a classroom. And the room was real cold. I didn't know what to think. But then my professor came in, and he was clowning and cracking jokes. That built my confidence back."Reed, the youngest of eight children, lost his mother last year to cancer. It was on her birthday in November that he made his Auburn commitment public. He believes that with her passing, he grew up faster and realized that leaving Louisiana was the best option for him."I wanted to get out of that environment," Reed said. "In high school I was becoming a man. And now that I'm on my own, I have no other choice."In the two weeks he has been an Auburn student, Reed has learned that the coaching staff continues to stay true to the family environment he was looking for; the one he signed on for when he became a Tiger."When the coaches were recruiting me, (Auburn) was everything they said it would be," Reed said. "That's what made me respect all of them. On the field they're all about business. They're going to holler at you. But they're real cool of the field. You could go to sleep over at Troop's house. You could go swimming in Troop's pool. He's real cool. Same thing goes for coach (Curtis) Luper and coach (Gus) Malzahn. They're great coaches, but they're even better people."Reed is also learning that his teammates are people he can trust and enjoy being around, too. Since he has been at Auburn, Reed and senior cornerback Demond Washington have become fast friends. When Reed run routes at receiver, Washington offers advice on how to protect himself from getting picked off by a corner."I was really impressed by that," Reed said. "He didn't have to tell me what I was doing wrong. He could have just let me keeping doing what I was doing and made himself look good. I respect him for that. As long as I'm working with him, he's going to get me better."LaDarius Owens was one of the recruits that Reed made friends with during Big Cat Weekend. A year later, the two are roommates along with running back Michael Dyer and punter Steven Clark. Reed said the four have all become close and often play video games together."There's a lot of competition in the room," Reed said. "It's been fun getting to know each of them."With his experience at multiple positions on the field and his 4.39 40 yard dash speed, Reed is working to earn playing time at receiver and on special teams."Hopefully I can play left corner, too," Reed said. "I doubt it though. I'll play wherever they need me to."Reed is anticipated to be a part of this year's Malzahn Wildcat package where his quarterback skills can be utilized.What he does know for certain is that he will be wearing the No. 1 jersey this season. It is the only number he has ever worn throughout his years of playing football, based on the advice of his mother."When I first started playing football," Reed said. "I asked my mom, 'Mom, what number do you think I should wear?' She said, 'One.' I asked her why and she gave me so many reasons, I had to wear it. Since then I never wore another number."As Reed sat in the lobby of his dorm that several other football players call home, the elevator doors opened. Sophomore offensive lineman John Sullen stepped off and jokingly waived his hands while exclaiming, "Oh my God! It's Trovon Reed!" like an enthusiastic fan. The two said hello before Sullen went on his way. Reed smiled."I met him just the other day," Reed said. "And he remembered my name. That's real cool. Everyone here is getting close. I think I could go to anyone's room and ask for help with something and they'd help me out. That's what I mean about this place. It's really like a family here."
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