Cyclone receiver breaks leg, lost for the season

Make that two Iowa State starters lost for the season this week with Wednesday's news that receiver Darius Reynolds broke a bone in his right leg on a non-contact practice play.

Reynolds suffered a fibula fracture at the ankle. He is scheduled for surgery Friday.

The junior college transfer was ISU's second-leading pass catcher with 13 receptions for 72 yards. Reynolds had been nursing a leg injury the last couple of weeks and did not have a catch the last two games. He'd shown some promise when healthy. Fortunately, Rhoads said, the Cyclones have depth at wideout.

“We really don't have gamebreakers, and Darius is one of those who was capable of being a game-breaker,” Rhoads said after practice last night. “That we'll miss. He had not shown it yet, but he certainly showed it to us during preseason camp.”

Reynolds went up for a twisting catch, planted his feet to make a move upfield and the ankle snapped, Rhoads said. ISU will submit paperwork to the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility.

Same goes for Rashawn Parker, ISU's senior defensive end who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last Saturday against Army. Rhoads said both cases appear favorable.

“We are going to get an opportunity for both Darius and Rashawn to red-shirt,” he said.

Just as he was about ready to play again, senior receiver Houston Jones had another setback with his injured ankle.

Jones, who has not yet played after catching 32 passes for 384 yards last season, went through warm-ups before the Army game and would have been available for Saturday's Big 12 Conference opener against Kansas State at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Rhoads did not say how severely Jones was hurt.

“It sort of rolled on him,” he said.

Suspensions over

All Iowa State players who have had off-field run-ins with ISU or Ames police have had their suspensions lifted and are in good standing, Rhoads said.

The most recent incident was with backup linebacker Matt Taufoou, who turned himself into campus police Monday on misdemeanor theft charges.

Tight end Kurt Hammerschmidt was arrested for drunken driving and defensive players Kennard Banks, Cleyon Laing and Kevin Hamlin had marijuana possession charges levied against them.

Under ISU's student-athlete code of conduct, athletes arrested or charged with a violation of local, state, or federal law are automatically suspended from competition and may be suspended from practice.

Athletics officials may lift or modify the suspension at any time.