Keyshawn Efese-Reading

In 2002, seven sophomores started on Reading’s football team. Those young men, including Keyshawn Efese, are now seniors. Efese stands out at 6’5 and 290 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. “I don’t think I’m different than everybody. I just think I was blessed,” he said. Efese was 365 pounds in tenth grade. He credits head coach Troy Godinet and the Red Knights’ staff for helping him physically and mentally. Efese has eight Division I offers. “It feels good. I stay humble every day, just continue to work,” he replied. The soft-spoken offensive and defensive tackle mentioned that location will be a factor when he makes his college decision. “I don’t want to stay close. I want to get out of Pennsylvania,” stated Efese. Reading returns nine starters on offense and seven on defense. Efese will once again be joined up front by Romello Fuentes (240 pounds), Bryant Del Carmen (320 pounds), and Efrain Bonilla (360 pounds). They’ll be opening holes for rising senior Alexis Alvarado. Cameron Small, a rising junior running back, transferred to Muhlenberg. However, Kahlil Samuel is back with the Red Knights after spending last year in New York. Gabriel Laws and Xavier Beatty are experienced players who will be counted on heavily. Beatty was named a first team defensive back in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League last fall. The 6’2 rising senior is a very tough matchup at wide receiver. Beatty earned a silver medal in the long jump at the PIAA-3A championships. Laws is a 210-pound linebacker with a nose for the football. The Red Knights are trying to turn things around after a (1-9,0-6) campaign. This will be Godinet’s third year at the helm. He was an All-County linebacker at Reading who played in the 2003 District 3-4A championship game. The Red Knights will host Phoenixville next Friday in their opener. The Phantoms finished (8-4) a season ago. Meanwhile, Efese will continue to quietly work on his craft. “I’m trying to improve on my first step and my drive blocking,” he said.