UCLA in future for Chaparral lineman Ream

Standing at 6-4, 280 pounds, John Ream can easily be mistaken for a college football lineman standing amidst his Chaparral High teammates.

In fact, it wouldn't be too far off to call him a college player, as the two-way lineman has already signed a letter of intent to play at UCLA next season.

But for one more year, Ream, or "J.R." as he's known to friends, is still a high schooler -- one with some unfinished business after exiting the playoffs in the first round the past two seasons.

"Ever since I've been on varsity, it's been one round and out," Ream said. "As a team, we want to go to state."

After losing several key players off last year's team, including Oregon State-bound two-way all-state performer Richard Seigler and two-year starting quarterback Tyson Dobbs, a trip to Reno for this season's 4A title game could be a tall order for Chaparral.

Then again, with Ream back in the fold, maybe nothing is beyond the Cowboys' grasp, literally and figuratively.

"He's only 17 years old, but he should be on a college campus somewhere," Chaparral coach Ben Johnson marvelled. "He's a big kid."

New Cowboys offensive line coach Travis Whitmore, an Eldorado graduate and former NFL Europe player, concurs.

"They didn't make 'em like that when I played high school football," Whitmore said. "He's so much more physically advanced than anyone else out there."

Be that as it may, Ream's coaches are quick to point out that the senior standout still spent the entire summer in the weight room working to get even better, and to adjust to his move from center to offensive tackle.

"Personnel-wise, we needed to get a more dominating person at tackle this year," Johnson said. "And even though UCLA recruited him as a center, they feel it's good he learns other positions along the line."

In addition to blocking for new starting quarterback Dallas Dobbs and running back Mario Hagan, a converted wide receiver, Ream will anchor the Chaparral defensive line after leading the squad in tackles last season.

"It's nice to know that he's on your team and not the other team," Hagan said. "There's really nothing you can do against him."

Best of all for the Cowboys, with Ream's college decision behind him, he can focus all of his attention this fall on dominating the opposition. And that's just the way he likes it.

"UCLA was my No. 1 pick, so once I checked it out and knew I wanted to go there, I wanted to get it over with," Ream said. "Now, I can make my senior year the best I can."

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