ISU receivers kicking it up a notch

Last in a preseason series about Iowa State football:

By Chuck Schoffner

Correspondent

AMES - Enough already. Darius Reynolds has had it up to here with unmet expectations.

Reynolds and his roommate, Darius Darks, are supposed to be Iowa State's game-breaking, game-changing wide receivers. But Reynolds said they've fallen short in that role and now, as seniors, they're down to one chance to show they can do it.

“I know his is a little different story because he had a good freshman season,” Reynolds said. “But since I've been here, we've been talking about how we really haven't done anything, how we haven't proven anything to the fans, to the Cyclone family, to anyone.”

Because of that, Iowa State's Darius Doubled combination goes into the 2011 season doubly determined.

“We're seniors. A lot of the new guys coming in will be looking at us,” Reynolds said. “We're working harder. We're trying to make this our best season yet.”

Reynolds and Darks have spent countless hours picking each other's brain on how they can become more productive receivers. Their discussions go back to Nov. 21, the day after the 2010 season ended with a 14-0 loss to Missouri that left the Cyclones with a 5-7 record, one victory short of bowl eligibility.

“We always talk about what we have to do individually to make a difference on this football team, help us get wins,” Darks said. “He has an incredible amount of confidence in himself in what he's able to do on the field. I feel the same way about myself. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to excite the people in the stands this year.”

That's happened far too infrequently the past couple of years.

Iowa State's longest pass play last season covered only 39 yards and the wide receivers who return - Reynolds, Darks, and Josh Lenz - combined for just five touchdown receptions.

Darks' 29 receptions were the best among that trio, but that figure was well below the 49 passes he caught as a freshman in 2008. He caught only seven passes in the first eight games of 2009, the first season in Coach Paul Rhoads' spread offense, before finishing with 28.

“As good as my freshman year was, I wasn't completely satisfied with that and it hasn't gotten any better ever since,” Darks said. “I'm trying to get back to something similar to my freshman year.” When Reynolds transferred in from Reedley Community College two years ago, Rhoads talked frequently of his potential as a big-play receiver. But Reynolds averaged only 5.5 yards a catch before a broken ankle ended his 2009 season in late September and he averaged a modest 11.3 yards on 25 receptions last fall.

“I wouldn't say I'm disappointed,” Reynolds said. “I just know that I could bring a lot more to the table and I haven't really shown that. Hopefully, this can be the year I can just lay it all down for the Cyclone fans.”

It certainly would be a comfort to Rhoads and offensive coordinator Tom Herman if Reynolds, or anyone else for that matter, could do that.

“I've been very complimentary of Darius and I'll temper that enthusiasm,” Rhoads said. “But I think he's going to have just a great year.”

Lenz, a junior, has the speed and elusiveness to deliver big plays. Good hands, too.

He made an acrobatic leaping catch in the end zone in an upset at Texas last year and averaged 10.4 yards on punt returns, running one back 62 yards for a touchdown. He had a 42-yard kickoff return against the Longhorns.

“He's a guy I believe can start taking more 4-yard passes and turning them into 24-yard plays,” Rhoads said. “With the rest of that group, I count on them to do that, too. Those are what the expectations are.”

Juco transfer Aaron Horne earned a starting job in spring practice and was a standout in the spring game, catching a 50-yard TD pass and scoring on a 16-yard reverse. Horne caught 51 passes for 1,176 yards and 12 TDs at City College of San Francisco last fall.

Sophomore Albert Gary and red-shirt freshman Jarvis West have been mentioned as possible impact players.

“They brought me in for the receivers to step up,” Horne said. “I think it's kind of a burden on our shoulders because last year they said the wide receivers weren't producing enough. This year, we took it as we've got to step up our game and be better and then all the negativity will go away.”

ISU receivers at a glance

Projected starters: WR - Darius Reynolds, 6-2, 208, sr.; Darius Darks, 6-1, 189, sr.; Aaron Horne, 5-9, 175, jr. TE - Kurt Hammerschmidt, 6-6, 265, jr.

Backups: WR - Josh Lenz, 6-0, 197, jr.; Albert Gary, 5-10, 196, so.; Jarvis West, 5-7, 164, fr. TE - Reid Branderhorst, 6-4, 242, sr.; Pierce Richardson, 6-4, 237, fr.

Cyclones need ... the wide receivers to produce more big plays and touchdowns.