Robby Ashford on mentoring Dante Reno: 'He's going to be special'
When Robby Ashford is going through spring practice and sees Dante Reno, it reminds him of when he was coming up as a freshman at Oregon in 2020.
Like most incoming freshmen, Reno is trying to prove himself. It’s hard not to. In his mind, he probably knows he’s on the back burner on the depth chart. But he still wants to leave a good first impression.
Watching on as an older player, Ashford gets it. He sees the potential in Reno, but he also knows what it’s like to go through those first few days of spring football.
“Dante’s a great guy, he’s going to be really good here,” said Ashford, who transferred to South Carolina in January. “Just seeing the things he does, kind of the mistakes, like man, I remember I made those. And they’re just freshman mistakes you make when you’re young. I mean, you come in, everything’s new — the speed of the game.”
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Reno’s arrival at South Carolina has been a long time coming. He committed to Shane Beamer’s program all the way back in July 2022, the first player to do so in his class.
Through the first few days of spring practice, Reno has been adjusting to this new life laid out for him. He’s not only trying to learn an offense that might feel foreign to him right now. But he’s also learning what it’s like to be a college football player.
And it hasn’t been easy to do that with majority of the reps going to the older quarterbacks in the room. Because of this, Reno has tried to take advantage of soaking up as much knowledge as possible from guys like Ashford.
He’s been a really good learner,” Ashford said. “He wants to learn from all of the older guys: me, LaNorris, Davis, Luke. He’s always sitting there asking us questions. Great guy, just someone you’d like to be around.”
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While it’s not an easy situation to be in, Reno has had the support of the guys around him that have been in his shoes.
“Just seeing him go through those freshman humps, we all could sit there and tell him, ‘Hey, we’ve all been there. Don’t get down on yourself. I promise you it’s a part of the process,'” Ashford said.
At the same time, it’s easy to forget that Reno is ahead of his time. Ashford realizes that Reno should technically be in high school right now, enjoying all that comes with those final few months before graduation. But instead, the freshman quarterback is here on campus to get ahead.
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“He’s taken that part really well and just knowing that it’s going to come with time,” Ashford said. “I mean, he’s still supposed to be in high school right now. He’s supposed to be getting ready for prom. What he’s come in and done in these two and a half months since I’ve been here, it’s been great.”
As time goes on, Ashford knows Reno will be just fine and things will work out for him. For now, he’s looking forward to guiding him through these first few weeks of college football.
“I’m excited to keep taking him under my wing and just keep showing him the ropes since I’ve been a guy who’s played and had that experience,” Ashford said. “Definitely want to take him under my wing. But I’ve got nothing but love for the kid. I mean, he’s going to be special.”
