Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Aug. 4, 2019, on the Daily’s projects website. Due to degradation issues on that platform and to preserve the continuity of the Daily’s digital archive, this version replicates that story backdated to its original time of publication.
Days before Christmas and the Sooners facing Alabama in the Orange Bowl, CeeDee Lamb sat in Darrick Reed’s Houston living room. The old coach and star pupil were sharing old stories.
Not long ago, this was where 9-year-old Lamb spent most of his weekends during football season. With his parents divorced, Lamb occasionally staying with his youth football coach made things easier for everyone.
On this particular day, as the two reminisced on Lamb’s already successful career, Reed recalled the story of how his former player got his name.
It was the first day of practice and Lamb, who went by his birth name ‘Cedarian,’ was showing his speed and natural athletic ability. At first, Reed called him ‘DVD’ due to the highlight plays he was making and the popularity of DVDs at the time. By the end of practice ‘DVD’ had turned into ‘CD,’ which like his long, lanky frame, stretched over time to CeeDee.
“It didn’t take long to see he was a special kid,” said Reed, who’s been coaching Pop Warner football for a decade. “It was clear from a young age we would be watching him on Saturdays and Sundays.”
Reed’s prediction was on target. The Oklahoma junior has become one of the best wide receivers in college football, catching 111 passes for 1,965 yards and 18 touchdowns in just two seasons. He’s a leading candidate for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best wide receiver in college football, and is widely considered a possible first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making 2019 likely his last in the crimson and cream.
