Dexter Reid

Position:
Free Safety
Height:
6-0
Weight:
200
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Norfolk, Va.
High School:
Granby

2003 All-America candidate
2002 First-Team All-ACC
Nation’s leading returning tackler
Ranked the No. 5 safety in the country by The Sporting News

Should be considered for All-America honors this season after an outstanding season in 2002 • Finished second in the nation in tackles last year • Has good speed and is a hard-hitting tackler • Has matured into a team leader over the last two seasons • Earned “Super Ram” status in the weight room this summer.

2002: Started all 12 games at free safety • Earned first-team All-ACC honors and finished second in the nation with 13.8 tackles per game • Finished second to Vanderbilt linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (14.0) • Had 166 total tackles, just five shy of the school record of 171 set by linebacker Buddy Curry in 1979 • Became the first Tar Heel to post over 150 tackles in a season since Dwight Hollier had 155 in 1990 • Set a school record for tackles by a defensive back with his 119th stop against Maryland • The previous record was 118 by safety Billy-Dee Greenwood in 1999 • Also had six tackles for losses, one sack, two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries and four pass breakups • Had a career-high 22 tackles against Clemson, including 16 solo stops and six assists • Posted 21 tackles in the season-opener vs. Miami (Ohio) • Recorded double-digits in tackles in 10 of 12 games, including seven straight games with at least 10 tackles • Made seven tackles (four solo) against Florida State • Recorded one sack, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry versus the Seminoles • Made 13 tackles, including one for a loss of three yards against Wake Forest • Led Carolina with 16 tackles (10 solo) against Virginia • Made one tackle for a one-yard loss versus the Cavaliers • Forced two fumbles against NC State and had 15 tackles • Led the team with 12 tackles against Arizona State • Made one tackle for a loss of five yards • Had 13 tackles against Georgia Tech • Made seven (five solo) tackles in loss to Texas • Had 14 tackles at Syracuse, including 12 solo stops • Broke up a pair of passes in addition to posting 21 tackles against Miami (Ohio) • Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week (9/2/02) for his efforts vs. Miami.

2001 • Sophomore Season
Started all 13 games and was voted the team’s top defensive back • Finished third on the squad with 99 tackles, including 67 solo hits • Had five tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass breakups and recovered one fumble • Had four double-digit tackle games, including a season-high 11 at Maryland and at Georgia Tech • Tied for second on the team with two interceptions • Made a spectacular interception against Virginia and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown that sealed a UNC victory • It was the 10th-longest interception return for a TD in UNC history • Also broke up three passes in the Virginia game • Totaled 10 tackles versus Wake Forest (5 solo) and had a tackle for loss • Recorded seven stops (5 solo), two tackles for loss and a one sack for three yards against Clemson • Recorded nine stops (eight solo) and recovered a fumble at NC State • Had 11 tackles (nine solo, two assists) against Maryland • Had eight tackles, two pass breakups and one interception against ECU • Credited with eight tackles and one tackle for loss in the Peach Bowl victory against Auburn.

2000 • Freshman Season
Played in every game as the top backup at safety and on special teams • Played 542 snaps • Played a season-high 80 snaps vs. Maryland • Saw his playing time increase as the season progressed • Finished the year fifth on the team with 69 tackles, including 35 primary stops and 34 assists • Also recovered one fumble, picked off one pass, had six pass deflections and one quarterback hurry • Played his best game of the season vs. Clemson, registering 13 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a 5-yard sack of Willie Simmons • Tallied double digits in tackles on three occasions – 13 vs. Clemson, 10 at Pittsburgh, 12 vs. Maryland • Recorded his only interception of the year when he picked off NC State’s Philip Rivers in the first half.

Redshirted in 1999.

Granby High School
Honorable mention All-USA Today selection • District Player of the Year • First-team all-state selection • First-team all-district on offense and defense • All-region and All-Tidewater selection on defense • Made 62 tackles and had three interceptions as a senior • Blocked five field goals • Played quarterback on offense and had 1,400 yards total offense as a senior • In his career, he passed for 20 touchdowns and 2,000 yards and rushed for 960 yards and 12 scores • Also competed in track and basketball • Norfolk’s Outstanding Track Performer • Competed in the sprints and triple jump • Won the state triple jump title as a senior • Two-time all-district selection in basketball.

Personal
Born Dexter Devon Reid on March 18, 1981 in Norfolk, Va. • Has an older brother and an older sister • His uncle, Kevin Shamblee, ran track at Tennessee • Favorite NFL team as a kid was the Dallas Cowboys • Favorite former Carolina football player is Dre’ Bly • Favorite athlete is Allen Iverson • Greatest athletic moment was winning the 2001 Peach Bowl • Wears No. 24 because the difference in those numbers (24) is two and in high school he was No. 2 • Likes to play video games and spend time with friends • Majoring in management and information systems.