Carrico excited, fired up for rookie tryout with Browns

Reid Carrico got two for the price of one. He not only gets a chance to play in the NFL but for the team of his choice.

The former Ironton Fighting Tigers’ All-Ohio linebacker who played at Ohio State and then West Virginia, has gotten a chance to remain close to home as he has accepted an invite on Saturday to attend rookie camp tryout with the Cleveland Browns.

“I couldn’t be happier. That’s where I wanted to go. They were the first team that talked to me,” said Carrico.

“As soon as the draft was over, my agent called and asked if I wanted to sign with the Browns. They were the first team to contact me. My dad (Gary) was a Browns fan. I told him you bet I want to be a Brown. I can’t wait. I am so excited.”

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Carrico was honorable mention All-Big 12 this past season, his second year with the Mountaineers after transferring from Ohio State.

The move to Morgantown proved to be the key to Carrico getting a chance to play and get the opportunity he has always wanted to play in the NFL.

“If I had (transferred) a year earlier I might have gotten drafted. I only had one year to really make a splash,” said Carrico.

“If I had made that decision, who knows where I might have gone. But I’m back home playing ball.”

Carrico is the first Ironton player to get a chance to play in the NFL since Tyler Whaley in 2008 when he came out of Ohio State and signed a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Carrico will head to Cleveland in two weeks for their rookie camp.

“It’s a great opportunity. I told my agent if I can be anywhere in the AFC North, that’s where I want to be,” said Carrico. “If I’m going into mini-camp and it’s a life and death situation, I want to go to someone I want to play for. I’m fired up.”

One thing that most people are unaware of is the few days leading up to the draft are silent, Carrico said.

“Right before the draft it goes silent. You’re in the dark,” said Carrico. “I’m thinking I’ve done it the right way. I took the bruises and I took the lumps. I knew I was going to get the opportunity, but I didn’t know where.

“Now, I just have to keep working hard and see how long I can stick and keep playing football until one of these days I have to get a real job.”

At Ironton, Carrico was a three-year starter and four-year letterman. He was a three-time All-Ohio selection and was first team All-Ohio defense both his junior and senior seasons.

Carrico was the Ohio Prep Sports Media Defensive Player of the Year his senior season and was runner-up for the Mr. Football award.

Carrico signed with the Ohio State Buckeyes and was a red-shirt his freshman season and played two more years with the Buckeyes before entering the portal and signing with West Virginia where he was a two-year letterman and a key player for the defensive unit his senior year.

Off the field, Carrico earned All-Academic honors for the Big Ten and Big 12.

Carrico is the son of Shelley and the late Gary Carrico. He has a brother, Garrett.

Carrico also played basketball and baseball in high school. His great uncle Earl Webb still holds the major league record for doubles in a season with 67 in 1931.