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DB, 5'11, 180, 4.5
Pascagoula, MS
Nickname: Number 19
High School: Pascagoula
HS Number: 19
AL Number: 19 or 23
Official Visits: Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida, Southern Miss, LSU
Second Choice: Southern Miss
Host During Alabama Visit: Kenny Smith and Fernando Bryant
Committed: February 2, 1998
Roommate To Be: Freddie Milons
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Tackles
Interceptions
HS Senior Season
Kick Returns
- 49.5 yards per KO return
- 22.9 yards per punt return
Tackles
Interceptions
Honors
- Three-time All-Distirct
- Two-time All-Region
- Two-time All-State
- Two-Time Team MVP
- South's Top Cornerback
- USA Today Honorable Mention All-American
- Pigskin Preps Super South 75
- Forrest Davis First Team All-South
- SuperPrep All-American
- Prep Star All-American
- AL-MS All-Star Game
Stories
Myles Handled the Pressure
Pressure. It’s a big part of the recruiting game, especially in Mississippi. Just ask Reggie Myles.
"You bet there was pressure," he says. "My teachers, my friends, everybody wanted me to go Mississippi State. That’s pressure."
And there was the pressure of telling his older brother that he wasn’t going to follow in his footsteps. The brother, Jimmie Myles, Jr., was a star defensive lineman at Mississippi State in the early 90s.
"I told Jimmie not to be mad at me if I didn’t pick Mississippi State. Jimmie was great about it. He told me to do what’s best for me."
Throughout the recruiting process Reggie’s biggest supporter was his father, Jimmie Myles, Sr. He urged Reggie to keep an open mind, and he made sure that no one pressured Reggie into making a decision.
"One coach came to my school to see me," Reggie says. "He tried to pressure me to commit to him right on the spot. I told my father about it and he set that coach straight in a hurry. He told him that nobody was going to pressure his son."
When Reggie announced his commitment to Alabama, he acknowledged that his decision would not be popular in Mississippi.
"But I’m the one who has to live with my decision for the next four years. I wanted to go to Alabama."
Hey, Number 19
Do you have a nickname? "Yeah, Number 19," says Reggie.
Not your number, Reggie. Your nickname.
"That’s my nickname. Everybody calls me Number 19."
Why?
"Because I wore number 19 in high school. Everything about me seems to be 19. I even made a 19 on my first ACT."
Sophomore strong safety Jason Jones was number 19 for the Tide last season. But Reggie hopes that Jones will understand his infatuation with number 19.
"I’ve got to have 19. Nobody has ever made that number famous. I want to be the one who makes it a famous."
Another Pascagoula Blue-Chipper
You can bet that next recruiting season the Alabama coaches will be scouting Pascagoula again. One of the nation’s top upcoming prospects is Pascagoula TE Casey Gilbert (6’5, 250).
"He’s a great one," Reggie Myles says. "I think he’ll be the number one tight end in the nation next year."
And guess who’ll be putting the hard sell on Casey?
"I’m going to do my best to get him to Alabama," Reggie says. "I’ll be working him hard. Heck, I’m already working him hard."
Reggie says that Casey rates Alabama high.
"He likes Ronnie Cottrell a lot. Coach Cottrell could give Alabama a big edge."
Q&A
TI: Reggie, Alabama was on your list early. Then they completely dropped off. What happened?
RM: At first I really liked Alabama a lot. That’s why I set up a visit with Coach Hallman. After I set the visit I didn’t hear from Coach Hallman for a long time. I figured that they must not want me, so I canceled my visit.
TI: And then you rescheduled a visit to Alabama?
RM: I was planning to visit Clemson because of Coach [Charlie] Harbison. Next thing I know is that Coach Harbison is leaving Clemson to go to Alabama. That’s when I became interested in Alabama again.
TI: What sold you on Alabama?
RM: Three things -- Kenny Smith, Fernando Bryant, and Coach Harbison.
TI: What influence did they have on your decision?
RM: From the moment I got off the plane I was impressed with Kenny Smith [one of Reggie’s hosts]. Right after I got to Tuscaloosa he took me on a tour of the campus. He showed me where all of my classes would be, where the library is, where I’d eat and live. I couldn’t believe that someone would take that much interest.
Then there was my other host, Fernando Bryant. Now that’s my boy. Fernando’s an easy person to get along with. I kind of look at him like a coach. He’s someone you can go talk to if there’s a problem. We hit it off real well.
The main reason I chose Alabama is Coach Harbison. He’s a Godly man who tells the truth. Alabama can give credit to Coach Harbison for getting me.
TI: A lot of people compare you to Fernando Bryant.
RM: I think I’m a lot like him. I’ve got speed, quickness and a lot of confidence on the field. When you play corner you’ve got to believe in yourself. I believe that I can stick on anyone.
TI: Have you set any goals for next season?
RM: I believe that I’ll have a chance to start. I know that there’ll be a lot to learn, but Coach Harbison says that he needs someone who can come in and play right away.
TI: You’re known as a great athlete. Is there a chance that you may return kicks?
RM: I’ve already asked Coach DuBose if I can play both ways and return kicks. He said that once I learn my job at corner, then he’ll let me try wide receiver. If they’ll give me a chance to return kicks I’ll do it.
TI: Some people are saying that you may go pro baseball.
RM: If I got drafted in the first round and the money was right I’d consider it -- but only if they agreed to let me play football at Alabama. The way I’m looking at it right now, this will be my last year to play baseball.
TI: Reggie, Alabama had a tough season last year. Do you think the Tide will ever return to glory?
RM: [Laughing] What? You expect me to say something bad about my school? Yeah, Alabama is coming back! Next season we’ll have a winning record and go to a bowl game. After that, it’s national contender every year, baby!
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