Friday, November 14, 2008
If everything is bigger in Texas, then how do they explain Todd Reesing?
Generously listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, the junior quarterback’s small stature scared off a lot of major schools along the recruiting trail. That includes the football factory in Reesing’s backyard, the University of Texas.
Junior quarterback Todd Reesing attempts to break a tackle by a Kansas State lineman on Saturday, Nov. 1. Reesing threw for 162 yards and one touchdown in Kansas' 52-21 win over the Wildcats.
Reesing’s father, Steve, went to Texas. Like most kids growing up in Austin, Todd cheered for the Longhorns.
However, that fanhood didn’t mean much when it came to getting a scholarship offer. Neither did his stellar high school numbers.
In his senior season at Lake Travis High School, Reesing threw for 3,343 yards, 41 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He was named Central Texas Player of the Year.
Still, Texas coach Mack Brown never gave Reesing a serious look. To his credit, Brown already had a record-setting Texas quarterback in his recruiting class, and Colt McCoy has worked out just fine.
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, McCoy fits the bill of a prototypical Division-I quarterback. McCoy’s commitment ensured that Reesing would never wear the burnt orange, but fortunately, coach Mark Mangino was there to sign him up.
In nearly three years at Kansas, Reesing has accomplished more than anyone expected.
On Saturday, Reesing could check off another goal that’s been around since he first came to Lawrence — beat Texas.
“I would be lying if I told you it wasn’t a little bit bigger for me,” Reesing said. “You’ve got to try to not make it as big to yourself, but it is going to be fun. I grew up watching Texas and cheering for them, so now that I am playing against them it will be a lot of fun.”
Back in July at the Big 12 media days, Reesing said he couldn’t wait for this game. He said his father had already reserved about 30 hotel rooms for this weekend.
Flash forward three and a half months and the game has arrived, but with less national fanfare than Kansas would like.
The Jayhawks (6-4) must win out for a shot at the Big 12 North title and a lot of pundits have picked the Longhorns (9-1) to win easily. The underdog role is nothing new to Mangino’s crew and Reesing said the key to keeping up with the favorites is to stay on his feet.
Last week at Nebraska he was constantly scrambling and took a number of vicious hits. Now Reesing will line up across from the Big 12’s best front four.
“They can rush the passer well and they have gotten a lot of sacks,” Reesing said. “Unfortunately for me that might mean trouble.”
One man trying to keep Reesing upright will be senior Ryan Cantrell, a Sugar Land, Texas, senior who’s playing his last home game. In total, the Jayhawks have 28 Texans on the roster, which is the most of any state (there are 27 Kansans). Mangino said he could see a little different look from those guys leading up to this game.
“I think maybe our Texas players, they get a little bit excited about it,” Mangino said. “They’re a little bit more bright-eyed about it.”
None more so than the fun-slinger. His family and friends are in town, so all that’s left to do is suit up and become Saturday’s biggest lone star.
“To get to play them is halfway to the dream I would have had as a kid,” Reesing said. “As good as they are this year, maybe pulling off an upset would be special for me.”
— — Edited by Arthur Hur
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