NFL Career
At Clemson, DJ’s athletic career continued to sizzle and reached many impressive milestones, including becoming the first two sport athlete on the 2013 Clemson baseball team. However, he decided to hang up his cleats to concentrate on football full time. This courageous effort graciously paid off. DJ finished his illustrious collegiate career with 145 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 24 quartberback pressures in 1087 snaps over 46 games and 10 starts, becoming the second Clemson Tiger to letter on top 25 football and baseball teams in one academic year.
Sadly, tragedy struck in 2014, DJ lost his biggest supporter and confidante, after his father died suddenly of renal failure. Reader Sr.’s untimely passing has become the catalyst to launch the ‘David Reader Sr. Scholarship fund to help students who exhibit exemplary performance in the classroom and out, Dj also dedicates his time to working with the National Kidney Foundation so he can raise money and educate others about the disease and to save lives in his father’s honor and memory. His father’s death also fueled DJ’s fire to continue his football career in a grand fashion by playing in the NFL.
This dream became a reality in 2016, after DJ was drafted in the 5th round on the 166th overall pick by the Houston Texans and just like at Grimsley and Clemson for the Texans in his first year, DJ did NOT disappoint. He finished his rookie season with seven starts and 22 tackles and one sack. After this breakout season, all eyes are on DJ, as his career with the Texans continues and Reader will not only meet those expectations but surpass them as history has shown.