Video: Roman Reigns high school football highlightsFormer Georgia Tech football standout and current WWE wrestler was a high school stud.
Roman Reigns will headline Wrestlemania 31 on Sunday in a match against reigning WWE world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
So why is this high school sports news?
As seen in the video above, Reigns — whose real name is Joseph Anoa'i — was a pretty darn good high school linebacker during his days at
Pensacola Catholic (Fla.), and for his senior season,
Escambia (Pensacola, Fla.)He registered 96 tackles and six sacks as a junior. En route to capturing Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Pensacola News Journal, he made 120 tackles and 12 sacks while forcing six fumbles as a senior.
"Joe was as energetic and passionate a football player as he is in the ring," said Greg Seibert, his coach at Pensacola Catholic. "The consummate competitor, Joe’s attitude brought out the best in the players around him. He was a pleasure to work with as a high school athlete."
A former member of The Shield along with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, Reigns went on to play at Georgia Tech and had stints in the NFL and CFL.
His bio at Georgia Tech indicates he recorded 108 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks during his four-year run with the program.
Known in the ring for his athletic apron dropkick and Superman punch, Reigns earned the right to face Lesnar this weekend by winning the 30-man Royal Rumble in January.
While many expect Reigns to emerge as the new champion Sunday, it won't be easy. Lesnar is in the midst of the longest WWE title run in almost five years and dominated a recent series with fan favorite John Cena (tongue firmly in cheek).
