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We have signed TE Sammis Reyes!
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) April 13, 2021
Football experience:
Sammis Reyes is doing a press conference with Washington reporters. How long has he been playing football? Just the last 10 weeks, he said. He's 6-foot-7 and a former college basketball player
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 14, 2021
Ready for the moment:
New Washington Football TE Sammis Reyes says "I feel ready. I've been training my whole life for this moment"
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 14, 2021
Switching from basketball to football:
Said he had over 12 agents reached out to him, and Sammis Reyes said people begged him to switch over to football. He was too athletic not to play in the NFL
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) April 14, 2021
Reyes thanked the former basketball players that made the transition to football and said without them he wouldn't have a chance.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
Living in Washington:
As it turns out, Reyes said he's been living in Washington for the last year. His family is here and so is his girlfriend's family. Reyes' family and friends convinced him to try football when he graduated from Tulane a year ago.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 14, 2021
Sammis Reyes said he talked to Washington at Florida’s pro day. He had conversations with over 20 teams. As soon as the WFT reached out, that’s where he wanted to be. Family is here, first time being settled and having his own space since he was 14.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) April 14, 2021
Football in Chile:
Said there’s a few people in Chile who played football. He was with the Chilean national team since he was 13. Both parents played basketball. But he fell in love with football and loves learning the ins and out
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) April 14, 2021
Learning the game:
Sammis Reyes said he's obsessed to learn as much as he can before the season starts. He said he majored in business and was a class short of getting a second degree in finance so he thinks he's prepared to learn the game of football.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
Sammis Reyes said it’s just like learning anything. He said what he does know is no one will outwork him when it comes to learning the intricacies of football.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) April 14, 2021
"I know no one is going to outwork me when it comes to sitting down and learning the game" - Sammis Reyes, WFT's newest tight end. The exact approach he should take
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 14, 2021
"To think I can come here overnight, I think that's naive," Reyes said. But he's confident he can pick up football and make an impact over time.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 14, 2021
Physically ready:
Reyes said physically he thinks he's ready, but it's about learning the playbook and nuances of football.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
Getting the call:
Sammis Reyes said he was at the gym on the floor, doing abs when his agent called to tell him the WFT signed him. He stopped what he was doing and started crying.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) April 14, 2021
Family:
Reyes said when he first came to the states he didn't speak English at all. He mentioned how his family sacrificed for him and it means the world to him and his family to have the opportunity.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
Journey to the NFL:
Sammis Reyes said he's been on his own in the U.S. since he was 14. Didn't speak English. His parents are still in Chile.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 14, 2021
He has a degree in business, nearly got a 2nd in finance, played D-1 bball at Tulane, was on the Chilean nation'l team and is now the newest TE for the WFT.
Sammie Reyes said he arrived in the states from Chile alone at 14. Didn't speak English. Ended up playing hoops and graduating from Tulane. Now he's getting a shot at playing in the NFL. Quite the ride. Being resilient and next-level athletic helps.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 14, 2021
Work:
To make this story even more incredible, Sammis Reyes was training people and then worked for DoorDash during the quarantine to make money. pic.twitter.com/qV4wBr3SW8
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 14, 2021
Sammis Reyes was training kids in basketball and working for DoorDash 8 hours a day the past year before diving into his NFL dream
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 14, 2021
Learning English:
OK, Sammis Reyes is quite the story. During his year around DC, he made money training folks in hoops - and doing Doordash for five months.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 14, 2021
As for learning English, beyond school he would translate words from movies, specifically The Matrix.
NFL International Pathway Program:
Reyes said without the NFL International Pathway Program he wouldn't be here. He Thanked his coaches for helping him. He said he has to get locked in the moment and not look ahead. He wants to take things day-to-day and get better that way.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
High point:
Reyes said his biggest trait that he thinks he can bring to football is his ability to catch a ball that's high in the air. He has a 40 inch vertical. He even mentioned an Allen Iverson crossover.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
Learning English:
OK, Sammis Reyes is quite the story. During his year around DC, he made money training folks in hoops - and doing Doordash for five months.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 14, 2021
As for learning English, beyond school he would translate words from movies, specifically The Matrix.
Going to Saints games:
Reyes mentioned while he was in school at Tulane he and his teammates would go to Saints games so he has been to an actual NFL game.
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) April 14, 2021
Preparing for hits in the NFL:
During his 10 week training at IMG, Sammis Reyes was the "only" player who had to wear pads each day, just so he could get used to them. As for if he's worried about getting tackled, he said if he can leave his home country at 14, he's not scared about being hit
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 14, 2021
Logan Thomas:
Logan Thomas was the first person to call Sammis Reyes once the news broke on Tuesday. The two spoke for a bit and Reyes was impressed by how willing Thomas was to help already
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 14, 2021