Joe Reitz
Encyclopedia
Joseph David Reitz is an American football
offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He attended Western Michigan University
where he played college basketball
and not football.
Reitz has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins
.
, but he decided to play college basketball at Western Michigan University. He finished as the third all-time leading scorer and rebounder
. Reitz also played in more games than any other player in WMU men's basketball history.
In his senior season, Reitz helped lead the Broncos to a Mid-American Conference
West Division title and was named First Team All-MAC for both the regular season and conference tournament. Reitz was also a member of the Academic All-MAC Team.
Reitz entered the 2008 NFL season as a member of the Ravens practice squad. On October 1, 2008, the Ravens placed Reitz on injured reserve
with a shoulder injury. While still a member of the Ravens, the move effectively ended his 2008 season.
In January 2009, Reitz was re-signed by the Ravens, and he entered the 2009 NFL season as a member of the Ravens practice squad. In January 2010 Reitz re-signed a reserve future contract. He was cut on September 4.
. He was waived on September 8.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He attended Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
where he played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
and not football.
Reitz has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College basketball career
Reitz was an all-state high school football player at Hamilton Southeastern High SchoolHamilton Southeastern High School
Hamilton Southeastern High School is a four-star, Blue Ribbon public high school in Fishers, Indiana, a town north of Indianapolis. It is a part of the Hamilton Southeastern School District...
, but he decided to play college basketball at Western Michigan University. He finished as the third all-time leading scorer and rebounder
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
. Reitz also played in more games than any other player in WMU men's basketball history.
In his senior season, Reitz helped lead the Broncos to a Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
West Division title and was named First Team All-MAC for both the regular season and conference tournament. Reitz was also a member of the Academic All-MAC Team.
Baltimore Ravens
Reitz was signed by Baltimore with the intention of playing as a tight end but was groomed to play offensive tackle because of his athleticism. Reitz, undersized for an offensive lineman, left college at 250 lb (113.4 kg), entered training camp at 270 lb (122.5 kg), and wanted to reach 300 lb (136.1 kg) by the start of the NFL season.Reitz entered the 2008 NFL season as a member of the Ravens practice squad. On October 1, 2008, the Ravens placed Reitz on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
with a shoulder injury. While still a member of the Ravens, the move effectively ended his 2008 season.
In January 2009, Reitz was re-signed by the Ravens, and he entered the 2009 NFL season as a member of the Ravens practice squad. In January 2010 Reitz re-signed a reserve future contract. He was cut on September 4.
Miami Dolphins
On September 5, 2010, Reitz was claimed off waivers by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived on September 8.
Indianapolis Colts
On September 8, 2010, Reitz was claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. He was waived on September 15. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 19. Reitz was signed off the practice squad for the Colts first round playoff game. Joe Reitz has now been set as the starter at Left Guard for the Colts on their depth chart on August 16,2011Personal
Reitz married his college sweetheart, Jill Odom, in July 2010. They also have one daughter, born in July 2011.See also
- 2007–08 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team2007–08 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball teamThe 2007–2008 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Mid-American Conference . The Broncos, 20–12 overall and 12–4 in the conference, captured the MAC West Division championship by 4 games and earned the #2 seed in the...
- Western Michigan Broncos men's basketballWestern Michigan Broncos men's basketballThe Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school's team competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2004...