Transferred from: East St. Louis High School (East. St. Louis, Illinois) to DeSoto High School (DeSoto, Texas)

From one powerhouse to another, Illinois product Sael Reyes transferred from Illinois 6A powerhouse and talent-rich recruiting hub East St. Louis to Texas 6A heavyweight DeSoto, located right outside of Dallas and the 2023 UILTexas 6A state champion. Reyes played his freshman and sophomore seasons with the ESL Flyers, totaling 63 tackles and 5 INTs, but left for Texas before his junior season in 2023. As a junior with the Eagles, Reyes helped DeSoto to a 16-0 record while finishing the season with 60 tackles, 3 TFLs, a sack, an INT, and a forced fumble. The brother of former Texas A&M turned Jacksonville Jaguars safety Antonio Johnson, Reyes saw the offers start to roll in while he still was at ESL, hearing from Ole Miss first in June of 2022, which was followed by Marshall, Texas A&M, Buffalo, Illinois, Arkansas, Nebraska, Duke, Mizzou, Jackson State (then with Deion Sanders as HC), and Minnesota, all in 2022. In January of 2023, he announced his transfer to DeSoto, which really opened up the recruitment, especially after his state championship winning season in 2023. Once the new year rolled around, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Colorado (from Deion Sanders), Texas, Tennessee, UCF, Purdue, Arizona State, LSU, re-offered by Arkansas, re-offered by Nebraska, Oregon, Grambling State, and Baylor, Wisconsin, all before junior year kicked off. Last September, Reyes named a Top 8, earned a few more offers, won a state title, and this past May, took officials to SMU and Miami (FL), and on May 19th announced he was committed to Southern Methodist University, a massive pickup for the Mustangs. This is an interesting transfer, as I’m inclined to think that he would be in a similar position offer-wise if he stayed at ESL, as the Flyers are a nonstop host to college coaches, but to see so much success and production at a Texas and national power like DeSoto absolutely rose his stock as a prospect. I doubt he’d have committed to SMU if he stayed in Illinois as well, but you never know. Either way, it’s a kid that the Land of Lincoln would have loved to claim as their own and a kid who will be fun to watch at the P4 level.

A thumper who strikes a very physical presence from the safety spot, Reyes, while playing against some of the best competition in the nation in 2023, showed off closing speed, patience and instincts in coverage, speed to stay on top of faster WRs going vertical, and a playmaking mentality once he gets the ball in his hands. The 6’1, 190 lber. comes downhills and closes with impressive speed from his safety position and can enforce the run and make plays behind the LOS from his safety spot, and also displays smooth change of direction skills that help him play comfortably and sticky in man coverage. He can anticipate and recognize routes in real time, good eye discipline and ball skills, and is a good tackler in space. Reyes comes downhill with pace but can break down and use his body control to stay square, balanced, and powerful into contact. One of the best DBs in Texas and a popular, talented, and physical safety pickup for SMU out of their backyard. We’ll be seeing him balling out on Saturdays soon.