Chris Reis: Tech safety and Christ's ambassador

Georgia Tech Sports Information

Former Roswell High School standout Chris Reis celebrates with Tech students at a game. Reis says that even though the schedule of a student-athlete can be demanding, true growth for himself has come in having a daily quiet time and studying the Bible.

Chris Reis, Georgia Tech football team's strong safety, has been called the leader of the Yellow Jacket's defense. From his vantage point in the middle of the field he is essentially the commander of the defense. A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter wrote of Reis, "He's got the authority that comes with being the team's leader in sacks last season and its fourth-leading tackler."

Reis played high school football at Roswell where he was team captain and started a school record 44 consecutive varsity games for coach Tim McFarlin. He started on both offense and defense at Roswell High School and was a three time Most Valuable Player, who also earned the team's Scholar Athlete Award.

The Roswell athlete was selected as a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia." He was a first team AAAAA all state selection by the AJC and rated the No. 22 safety prospect in the nation by Student Sports Magazine.

At Georgia Tech Reis has been a versatile defender who has returned to strong safety for this year's campaign after an all-conference season last year at outside linebacker. He confesses that his most memorable game was the 2004 game against Clemson when Tech miraculously came back from a 10-point deficit with less that two minutes left to win 28-24. In that heart-stopping contest Reis had a career high 14 tackles in only his second start as a linebacker.

In a recent contest with the University of Connecticut Reis had six tackles and stopped the Tech opponents with an interception which he returned 33 yards.

Finding a hero

The Tech "Commander of the Defense" points to his mother, Stephanie, as his hero. He stated, "My mom and dad divorced when I was about three and my brother and I lived with mom. She became the spiritual leader of the family, really served us and poured her heart into our lives.

Chris Reis

"Like every family we had our struggles, but mom never gave up and I watched her grow in her faith and came to admire her greatly. She is the one who led me to the Lord and for that she will always be my hero."

Reis added, "I was actually raised in a Catholic background up until the 8th grade, but the church we were attending really wasn't meeting our needs and mom wanted to try something else. A friend introduced us to Willeo Baptist Church in Roswell and in that church God really opened my eyes to a different world - a world where I realized I needed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

The strong safety admitted, "After a few years of really seeking the Lord and trying to learn as much as I could about His plan for my life, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. It is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Ever since then I've been in love with the Lord."

The uninitiated individual would have difficulty understanding the time, discipline and work required to play college football on a Division I team. The weightlifting, conditioning, running, exercises, drills, practices, scrimmages, team meetings, position meetings, learning game plans and a myriad of other things require an almost full surrender of one's life.

Georgia Tech Sports Information

After leading the Yellow Jacket defense last year in sacks as an outside linebacker and earning all-ACC honors, Chris Reis has made the switch to strong safety.

Yet, in spite of the incessant demands of football, Reis who is majoring in business management with a certificate in finance, is maintaining a grade point average that has qualified him to be on the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic football team the last two seasons.

However, Reis' commitment to athletics and academics has not dimmed his view of the eternal nor pre-empted his pursuit of holiness.

He testifies, "In everything I do, I try to glorify the Lord. I have discovered that walking with the Lord is a constant process and in the past year I have really grown in my faith by reading and studying God's Word, having a quiet time with the Lord daily and trusting that He knows what is best for me."

A purpose that prevails

Reis started playing football in the fourth grade and since that time has dreamed of playing in the National Football League. It would be easy to see him roaming menacingly in the backfield of some NFL team next season, but the leader of the Yellow Jacket defense is primarily interested in submitting to the will of God. He cites Proverbs 19:21 as a verse to life by: "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Both college and professional athletes are extremely visible in our society. In many cases they become role models. Some are not worthy examples because of their use of performance enhancing drugs, foul language, sexual exploits, barroom brawls and drinking binges. Other athletes are worthy role models and to emulate their lifestyles would be wise and prudent. Chris Reis is more than just one of the good guys. He is a genuine Christian.