Mustangs Ryan Becker, Ethan Reed headed to SMU and Abilene Christian

JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER

MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School senior football players Ryan Becker and Ethan Reed weren’t the only winners on National Signing Day on Feb. 3.

Becker signed to play for Southern Methodist University, while Reed will play for Abilene Christian University as a preferred walk-on.

Becker was the first SMU commit to fax in his letter of intent at 7 a.m. As a result, coach Jess Loepp, who was Becker’s lead recruiter, won $100.

But it didn’t stop there. SMU legend Craig James and head coach Chad Morris spoke with Becker through Apple’s FaceTime app and introduced him to the SMU faithful

“This morning was pretty cool,” Becker said with a grin. “It was like a party.”

Though he was a left tackle for the Marble Falls Mustangs, Becker’s 6-foot 5-inch, 230-pound frame give SMU some flexibility to move him to tight end, just like another former Marble Falls Mustang, David Morgan.

Morgan, who just finished his eligibility for the University of Texas-San Antonio, is in Atlanta preparing for the NFL Draft. He reached out to Becker the morning of National Signing Day to congratulate him.

“That was awesome,” the younger player said. “He was there for my first offer. He’s always been there.”

Marble Falls head coach Matt Green said that when he first spotted Becker, who was a unanimous first team All-District 25-5A selection last season, almost two years ago, the coach knew the player had the size and frame that college programs covet.

Becker had almost 20 offers from Division I programs. The son of Tracey and Mark Becker will major in business.

“What a player he has been,” Green said. “He’s going to do fantastic. I don’t think he believed he could get a Division I scholarship two years ago. Six coaches at SMU have said that if he stays injury-free and takes care of business, he’ll play in the NFL.”

Reed, who is 5-11 and 191 pounds, was first known for his football intelligence, Green said, and his love of the sport. However, coaches didn’t see “an overly aggressive young man as a junior,” Green added.

“I think he’d be the first to tell you he could be better,” he said.

So coaches talked to the athlete and told him he had the intangibles to be a physical player and challenged him to be more, Green said. Then they watched him blossom into a top linebacker who looked forward to contact and making plays all over the field. Reed was one of the top defenders last season for the Mustangs and was honorable mention all-district in a division that’s considered by observers to be one of the toughest in the state.

“(Coach Green) was right,” Reed said. “I was a very smart and technical player but undersized and not confident in myself to help my team and program. I was afraid to fail. But they pushed me to grow and develop as a player and an all-around aggressive linebacker. I’m more confident in myself and ability to play on the field.”

The son of Ellen and Cal Reed will major in kinesiology.

Reed said he will redshirt during the 2016 season and will be ready to challenge for a scholarship during the 2017 spring practices.   

jfierro@thepicayune.com