Looking back, it was hard to imagine the formerly skinny kid that has played Defensive Line since 5th Grade would turn out to be the first Power 5 signee from Enid since Austin Box in 2007. But that’s exactly what happened with Enid Senior Donovan Rieman. Going from the EJRT Silverbacks to the Waller Middle School team, then Enid High, and next year Kansas State, has been quite the journey.
Rieman said that he was always a little taller than everyone, but that he didn’t start filling out until his Junior year. “I really grew into my athleticism. Around the summer of my junior year I got really dedicated in the weight room and with (strength and conditioning) Coach Baldwin’s help made a big jump.” That big jump started paying dividends and turned into his first scholarship offer from Northwestern OSU in March of his Junior year.
Not satisfied, Rieman continued to put in extra work, like attending several offseason camps which turned into more offers from even bigger schools. “I started really getting recruited midway through my senior season. Coach Woods really helped get the word out to get teams interested. I took an official visit to Harvard, which was cool, but a total culture shock. My other official visit was to Kansas State, and I knew right away it was the place I wanted to be. Coach Wyatt was awesome and being a part of the Big XII was an amazing opportunity, so I took it,” Rieman said.
Rieman gives a lot of credit to his coaches at Enid High as well as his teammates. “I love my teammates at Enid. We are really a brotherhood and get along really well. I can’t say enough about Coach Woods, Coach Baldwin, and Coach Sears. They keep us accountable on the field and in the weight room. Having a strength and conditioning coach like Coach Baldwin has especially made a difference. Our whole team has improved in strength and speed since he’s been here,” said Rieman.
Rieman’s grandmother, Rachel Reaves, who he lives with, is especially happy for Donovan. “Donovan is almost a perfect kid,” she says, “he might have a little bit of a messy bedroom, but I am so proud of what he has accomplished. He gets great grades, which is important, and I really saw another level of dedication last summer with summer pride. He seemed to make up his mind that he wanted a scholarship and really went for it, which translated to the field. I am just so excited for him.”
So if you see a little more purple in town, or hear a few more EMAW chants on Saturdays in the coming fall, it just might be in support of one of Enid’s own. Good luck Donovan!
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