BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS -- Reggie Germany, part of a super talented group of Ohio State receivers, was a high school senior in St. Louis two years ago when he reneged on a verbal commitment to attend Missouri.
Although he doesn't seek to vindicate that choice this Saturday against No. 21 Missouri (3:30 p.m. kickoff), he would like to beat his high school acquaintances.
"I'm sure there'll be a lot of people (from Missouri) looking at me to see if this is the right place for me," the sophomore said. "I'm not going out there to prove people wrong or to have a big game. The satisfaction for me would be in winning the game."
Appropriately, his one catch as a freshman was a 17-yarder in OSU's 31-10 victory at Missouri. Through two games this season, Germany has already caught four passes for 79 yards.
"It'll be exciting (again on Saturday)," he said. "I know so many guys on that team, it's like a backyard rivalry for me." Some observers call OSU's starting receivers, David Boston (split end) and Dee Miller (flanker), the best tandem in the country. But Germany, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, fits right in, possessing exceptional athletic ability.
Last year, he was a member of the Big Ten champion 400-meter outdoor relay team, and placed fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles in the Big Ten outdoor championships.
As everybody says who has seen Germany slam-dunk a basketball: Wow.
Even though he's not in the limelight as often as starters Boston and Miller, opposing coaches think of the Germany in the same breath. "All three of them -- Boston and Miller and Germany -- are guys who can burn you at any time," Missouri coach Larry Smith said this week.
So, how tough is it for Germany to wait his turn?
"Very tough," he said. "But I think when you have to wait for something, it makes you a better person in the end. I think it'll make me stronger inside, make my mind stronger, and that's going to help me."
He knew coming in that he would have to wait. But as with any athlete in such a stratospheric class -- he was a second-team USA Today selection coming out of high school and made numerous All-America squads -- playing professionally was on his mind.
OSU provides a great route to the pros.
"I wanted to be the best possible receiver I could be," Germany said. "And I felt I had a better chance of being that here (where the long passing game is a more integral part of the offense) than at Missouri."
Germany said he wanted to come to Columbus all along -- even when he announced his verbal commitment to go to Columbia, Mo.
"It was wrong of me to give (Missouri) my word," he said. "But there were circumstances."
Germany said there were some family problems that he wanted to be closer to home to deal with. "But what cleared things up for me was when my mom said, "Go where it's best for you, where you feel comfortable.' Ohio State was that place."
He said he hasn't received any negative fallout.
"My family and friends supported me 100 percent," Germany said. "They've been behind me through thick and thin."
He said he no longer feels uneasy about his decision.
"You have to put things like that behind you," he said. "You've got to move on. "Life is about chances, and I know I took a chance by backing out (on Missouri) and coming here." Next for OSU No. 1 OSU (2-0) vs. No. 21 Missouri (2-0), 3:30 p.m. Saturday (Chs. 9, 2)
