660lb Squat to Big Man Touchdown: Jae’Von Reels’ College Football Journey

In this episode of the ZenGame Podcast, host Tommy Morris sits down with University of San Diego defensive lineman Jae’Von Reels. Jae’Von shares his journey from being named High School Defensive Player of the Year in Northern California to navigating the mental and physical demands of Division I college football. They talk about hitting a massive 660lb squat, learning how to overcome setbacks early in his college career, the lessons learned from his mother, and what it’s like to score a big-man touchdown. Key Topics Covered: Moving from high school stardom to earning your spot in college The mindset behind heavy lifting and mental toughness in "Iron Season" Overcoming losing the starting spot and finding the fire to rebuild Balancing double majors (Finance & Accounting) with D1 athletics Reading play formations and breaking the "see ball, get ball" stereotype on the D-line Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Overcoming ego in college football 00:23 – Hitting a 660lb Squat & Mindset in the Weight Room 02:22 – Choosing University of San Diego 03:25 – Welcome to College Moment: Going from "the guy" to Scout Team 04:21 – Advice from Mom: Lessons on resilience and mental toughness 04:53 – Freshman Spring: Earning and losing the starting spot 06:10 – What is "Iron Season"? Winter conditioning & building trust 07:10 – Leadership style & competitive energy on the field 07:55 – Playful trash talk: "I’m a bit of a troll on the field" 08:44 – Balancing Finance and Accounting majors with D1 Football 10:03 – Off-the-field reset: Beach walks, music, and faith 10:33 – How football prepares you for corporate life & discipline 11:28 – Getting a sack vs. Taking on double/triple teams 12:03 – The Big Man Pick-6: Scoring a Touchdown vs. Central Washington 13:10 – Favorite D-Line drills & working with trainer back home 14:11 – D-Line vs. O-Line battles & competing with teammate Micah 14:47 – Debunking the D-Line stereotype: Mental preparation before the snap #ZengameMedia #USD #GoToreros #CollegeFootball