Starting last week, the Idaho State Journal began previewing the top five storylines to watch during Idaho State’s spring football practices, which begin March 29. They are listed in no particular order.
What does the future hold for Chris ‘Scooby’ Reynolds Jr.?
Scooby Reynolds had to wait two years to make his Idaho State debut.
After playing one game, he’s waiting to make his next comeback.
Reynolds redshirted his freshman season and was an anticipated contributor heading into the 2016 campaign. But a torn ACL in fall camp delayed his opening act.
Reynolds finally played his first game last season, recording two catches for 22 yards in Idaho State’s 37-6 home win against Western Oregon in the season opener.
The next week, at Utah State, Reynolds left the game after the third play. The extent and type of injury Reynolds suffered last season has not been confirmed, but he was on crutches by the final horn and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound wideout is entering his fourth year in the Bengals’ program. His stats: two games played, two receptions, 22 yards, 20 games missed because of injury and two years of eligibility remaining.
Reynolds will not participate in spring practices, according to head coach Rob Phenicie. If he’s healthy by the start of the season, he’ll give ISU another weapon to add to a prolific offense featuring all-Big Sky Conference receivers Mitch Gueller and Michael Dean, all-conference running back James Madison and two-year starting quarterback Tanner Gueller.
Phenicie has noted Reynolds’ athleticism and vouched for his value to the offense. He’d be a seamless replacement — and maybe more — for outgoing senior Hagen Graves and his 31 catches, 430 yards and three touchdowns.
While Reynolds is sidelined this spring, veterans like Tristan Beard, Trey Bell and Matt Peterson figure to earn some first-team reps. ISU also has redshirt sophomore Tanner Conner, who caught eight passes for 93 yards last season and competed in six indoor track meets this winter with the ISU track and field team. Conner finished first in the 60-meter hurdles four times, took first in the 55-meter hurdles once and won the long jump once. At the conference championships in February, Conner finished 11th in the 60-meter hurdles and 15th in the long jump.
After recovering from two season-ending injuries in as many years, will Reynolds’ value hold? Or will other pass catches have passed him by on the depth chart by way of more reps, more time with quarterbacks and full range of motion?
Last fall, Phenicie said Reynolds’ time was short. He had less of everything — reps, time with quarterbacks — than everyone else. But he got caught up quickly and was ready to deliver on two years of build-up.
Reynolds’ time is even shorter now.