River Rouge's Reggie Pearson still views himself as an 'underdog'

BRIGHTON, Mich. - This past season, River Rouge junior safety Reggie Pearson Jr., racked up a whopping 120 tackles, to go along with seven interceptions and six pass deflections. He made the Detroit News All-State Dream Team as a junior. One of three juniors to do so. He helped lead his team to an 11-2 record, and an appearance in the Division 4 state semifinals. He is also committed to a Big Ten school, in Wisconsin. Still, Pearson feels he is still overlooked by some.

"Other than the offers and rankings, I don't get too much feedback from other people," Pearson said. "Most feedback I do get is how I don't deserve this and that. But that just pushes me to prove others wrong."

Pearson does not need to prove others wrong. Only a junior, he is as accomplished a player as you will find in the state. Not to mention, he is really good at playing defensive back.

At Camp Pride on Saturday, Pearson was apart of a loaded defensive back group, but stood out over everyone in attendance, winning overall defensive MVP. In one-on-one drills, Pearson did not allow much, if anything at all, intercepting a couple of balls, and deflecting a few passes. If anyone at that camp felt Pearson was underrated, or not as good as advertised, he sure changed a few minds.

"Well, of course I'm going to thank God first for helping me to get that," Pearson said. "But I look at camps as a battle among wars to prove my talent as a underdog, so it means a lot."

"Saturday was the first showcase of the year, so it was just a taste of what's going to happen this year. I've been in the gym heavy, and been running a lot to open up muscles I don't usually use."

The only thing underrated about Pearson, is his work ethic. As a freshman, Pearson was a skinny kid. Now as a junior in high school, he has really filled out his body upper-body, standing 5-11, 185-pounds. Known as a big-hitter, Pearson is one of the more physically impressive players you will see, and he owes it all to his trainer.

"The best trainer in the world is Christopher Huff," he said. "He has really helped me gain a Division I football body, which is important, especially going to play Big Ten football. His training has helped me explode through tackles, and I know the strength I now have."

As much time as Pearson dedicates to the football field, he still has found the time to be a five-star recruit in the classroom. He is consistently a 4.0 honor roll student, and could probably get into any school he wanted to, just off of grades alone. Academics is a priority to him, just as football is. As if he has a choice.

"My dad stays on me," he laughed. "I'm told that I can't get B's, so I just focus on getting all A's, as well as getting better in football, grinding until the end."

Pearson carries that 'underrated' chip on his shoulder, but just as motivation. He has accomplished so much as an individual player, accomplishments most could only dream of. He still as unfinished business in high school with his team, and that is to win a state title for River Rouge. The Panthers were a game away from going back to Ford Field, losing to Detroit Country Day in the semifinals. River Rouge returns another talented team, and Pearson expects them to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

"We have no choice but to leave a legacy for our school," he said. "We we're big on going on another championship run this year."