Former Sallies standout Troy Reeder runs the ball against Dover in the Division I state semifinals in 2013. (Delaware State News photo).

NEWARK — For the Delaware football team, what’s better than landing Salesianum standout Colby Reeder?

How about landing his big brother, Troy, as well.

In a story first reported by Sean Fitz of Lions247.com on Tuesday morning, Troy Reeder is transferring from Penn State to Delaware, where Colby verbally committed last week.

Troy started at outside linebacker as a redshirt freshman for the Nittany Lions last fall. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder was fourth on the squad with 67 tackles with an interception while starting in 11 of 13 games.

Colby Reeder is also considered an outside linebacker prospect. The Reeders’ father, Dan, played fullback for the Blue Hens.

Sallies coach Bill DiNardo said the brothers just wanted the chance to line up in college together.

“I think the biggest factor is that he (Troy) gets to come home and he gets to play with his brother,” said DiNardo. “They are extremely close. They are a great family. It’s exciting for them. ... I know Coach Brock is very excited.”

Delaware coach Dave Brock isn’t permitted to publically comment on either player until they officially sign with UD in February.

Like Colby, Troy Reeder was named the state Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year at Sallies (2013). He had 280 tackles, 12 sacks and five interceptions in his high school career.

Rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Reeder was ranked among the top 35 high school linebackers in the country.

Reeder, who will have three seasons of college eligibility remaining, was also a star lacrosse player who had a scholarship offer from North Carolina in the sport. At Penn State, he was a dean’s list student with a 3.82 GPA last spring.

The addition of the Reeder brothers adds even more talent to an already-deep linebacker position for the Hens. Linebackers Charles Bell, Anthony Jackson and Larry Spears were three of Delaware’s top four tacklers last season.

Hodgson safety Ray Jones, who started as a freshman for the Hens, was another major-college recruit that Brock convinced to stay home last year.

“I told Coach Brock today how excited I am for him,” said DiNardo. “He’s done such a great job of keeping some of these local guys home. It’ll be exciting the next couple years to see what these local guys do because they were good enough to play at high level. It’s pretty cool.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@newszap.com.