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Honors & Awards
- Second-Team All-Big Eight (AP, 1993)
- Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1993)
- Tom Novak Award (1993)
- Nebraska Team Captain (1993)
- Fourth-Round NFL Draft Pick (Arizona Cardinals, 1994)
- 16th-Round Major League Draft Pick (Atlanta Braves, 1993)
1993 (Senior)
A team captain and second-team All-Big Eight selection as a senior cornerback/free safety for the Big Eight champion Huskers in 1993, John Reece recorded 58 total tackles, including 29 solos. He added six tackles for 13 yards lost, while notching one interception and nine pass breakups. In the 1994 Federal Express Orange Bowl national championship game against Florida State, Reece registered seven tackles, including five solos, including one sack for three yards lost. He added a quarterback hurry.
A four-year letterwinner, Reece ended his stellar Nebraska career with 106 tackles (54 solos), including eight TFLs for 27 yards. He had one sack (7 yards), four interceptions and 13 pass breakups to go with three quarterback hurries. After playing in 40 career regular-season games and a trio of bowl games for the Big Red, Reece was chosen in the fourth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994, the St. Louis Rams in 1995 and the Dallas Cowboys in 1997.
Before pursuing an NFL career, Reece played for the Atlanta Braves rookie team in Danville, Va., in the summer of 1993 after being chosen by the Braves in the 16th round of the 1993 MLB Draft. Reece was also drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of high school in 1989 and again in 1992, even though he did not play organized baseball since his high school days at Jersey Village in the Houston, Texas area.
1992 (Junior)
Nebraska’s starting right cornerback in all 11 games as a junior, Reece recorded 22 tackles, including 10 solos, while breaking up two passes. He also tied left corner Kenny Wilhite for the team lead with three interceptions. Reece picked off two passes in Nebraska’s season-opening win over Utah, returning one 12 yards. He posted a season-high five tackles against Missouri, while also snagging his third interception of the year. Reece also started against Florida State in the 1993 Federal Express Orange Bowl, recording seven tackles, including three solos, with one tackle for two yards lost. He added one quarterback hurry. Reece was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the 32nd round of the 1992 MLB Draft.
1991 (Sophomore)
After missing all of the 1990 season while recovering from knee surgery, Reece played most of the 1991 campaign as a backup free safety behind veteran Tyrone Byrd. However, when Kenny Wilhite was lost to a knee injury against Kansas (Nov. 9), Reece switched to corner and backed up Curtis Cotton against Iowa State, Oklahoma and Miami. Reece played in seven games and recorded six tackles. He played in the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl but did not register a tackle.
1990 (Redshirt)
Reece suffered a torn knee ligament on a punt return in Nebraska’s first spring scrimmage on April 7. He redshirted during the 1990 season.
1989 (Freshman)
As a true freshman, Reece moved up to the varsity and played in all 11 regular-season games and the Fiesta Bowl against Florida State. He and 1992 Outland Trophy winner and College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Will Shields were the only true freshmen to play for the Big Red in 1989. Reece played both corner and free safety, contributing 20 tackles, including two for 14 yards lost. He also had two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. He added a pair of unassisted tackles in the Fiesta Bowl. He also had a 26-yard punt return during the year.
Jersey Village High School
Reece was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for Coach Rudy Phillips at Jersey Village High School, earning All-Greater Houston and all-district honors as a senior. He intercepted six passes and posted 117 tackles as a senior in 1988. He averaged 20.3 yards on kickoff returns. He also lettered twice in baseball and was an all-district selection. He was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the MLB Draft in June of 1989.
Personal
The son of John L. Jr. and Ophelia Reece, John L. Reece III was born in Crowell, Texas. He has two sisters, Tomekya and Shera. He was an English major at Nebraska.