PROFILE
4A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30.2005
Reesing
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
"He finally convinced me it was best," she said. "More and more players are doing the same thing lately, and it does seem to help."
If Reesing's extra preparation pays off, and he sees playing time as a freshman, he thinks the Jayhawks could continue the progress they have made during the past three years.
"I'm excited to get up there," he said. "There's a lot of potential to have a great offense next year."
BY THE NUMBERS
Committing to Kansas
After Reeing toured Kansas State and attended a football camp, he took a side trip to Lawrence and was blown away.
"After seeing Manhattan and Lawrence, there was no comparison," he said. "Kansas' campus was prettier and their facilities were a lot nicer. I really liked Lawrence, and everyone I talked to convinced me it was the better school."
During his recruitment, Reesing chose Kansas instead of Kansas State.
A week after his visit, he said Kansas sent him a scholarship offer that he accepted
In a way, Kansas stumbled upon Reesing.
College coaches aren't allowed to comment on recruits until they have signed or are enrolled at school.
There was a chance the Jayhawks would have noticed his gaudy stats and recruited him anyway, but they didn't contact him until a family friend of the Reesings gave his résumé to Kansas coaches.
The friend was a daughter of an ex-Kansas coach, and because only a handful of teams were recruiting Reesing, she tipped the Jayhawks off about him, Reesing said.
"I was actually at the airport when KU called," he said.
Reeing said K-State was one of the first colleges to recruit him — along with Northwestern, Duke, TCU and Purdue — and it wasn't until he was on his way to visit Manhattan that Kansas contacted him.
Tool Reasing's high school stats
2005:
♦ Passing: 3,343 yards, 41 TDs,
5 Ints
♦ Rushing: 756 yards and 8 TDs
2004:
♦ Passing: 3,157 yards, 29 TDs, 8 Ints
♦ Rushing: 344 yards, 5 TDs
High School career:
♦ Passing: 6,500 Yards, 70 TDs, 13 Ints
♦ Rushing: 1,100 Yards and 13 TDs
Reeing has watched or listened to every Kansas football game that didn't interfere with one of his own since his commitment, and he'll be at the Fort Worth Bowl if Kansas plays in it.
Lake Travis High School's Todd Reesing, right, avoids a tackle in a game against New Braunfels High School on Friday, Oct. 14. Reesing ran for more than 1,000 yards during his career at Lake Travis High School
He has never regretted his decision to be a Jayhawk.
Not even during back-to-back weeks of watching his future team score three points, and then a 66-14 pounding at Texas, made him think twice.
"It was definitely frustrating to see the team you're going to play for not have success offensively. But where they struggled, there is obviously the chance for me to step in and help the team out early in my career." he said. "I will have some great competition in there with Kerry Meier and Adam Barmann next year."
Reesing's father, Steve, was also thrilled with his son's decision.
He said no matter how difficult it was to get to Jayhawk games in the coming years, he and the Reesing family would attend all the games they could.
"It's a safe bet we'll have season tickets," Steve said.
Size isn't everything
Kellis Robinett/KANSAN
For as much as national scouts disrespected Reesing, those who have watched him throughout his high school career said he was one of the most underrated players around.
Alan Trubow, who covers high school football for the Austin American-Statesman, said Reesing was easily the best quarterback in central Texas and one of the best in the state.
"If he was four inches taller, he would have his pick of any college in the country," Trubow said. "That's not just me talking. That's any scout you ask or recruiting Web site you want to look at.
Famous football players six feet tall or less
There's a lot to like about Reesing's game.
He has quick feet and can scramble when plays break down or carry the ball on designed running plays.
"He's for real."
DARREN SPROLES:
Height: 5-foot-6
BILL WHITTEMORE
Height: 6-foot
DREW BREES
Height & feet
DANTE HALL:
Height: 5-foot-8
- San Diego Chargers starting quarterback, 2004 Pro Bowl appearance, Heisman Trophy finalist in 1999 and 2000 at Purdue
- San Diego Chargers return specialist, first team All-American running back at Kansas State, led the NCAA in rushing yards in 2003
- Former Kansas starting quarterback, led the Jayhawks to 2003 Tangerine Bowl, third team all Big 12 selection as a senior
Height: 5'10-10
♦ 1884 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at Boston College, 12 years in NFL, Six time Canadian Football League MVP
DOUG FLUTIE:
Source: Team Web sites
Height: 5-foot-10
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver/return specialist, two Pro Bowl appearances
MIKE GARRETT:
Height: 5-foot-9
◆ 1965 Heisman Trophy winning running back at USC
"I'm a fast runner," he said. "Being able to scramble and make a play running or passing adds another dimension to my game. I think that would have to be my strength."
Reeing is often compared to Doug Flutie, the 5-foot-10 quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy at Boston College and has played in the NFL for 12 years.
Reesing said he actually modeled his game after Flutie, because they both made up for their size with quick feet and the ability to throw on the run.
But maybe best of all, he has proven himself in clutch situations.
yard touchdown run on 4th and goal to win the game.
He also has the arm to throw 60-yard passes and, like the pros, throws the ball to a spot on the field instead of at his receivers.
If Reesing continues his offensive success at Kansas, he will add his name to a long list of athletes who made it big despite lacking height.
Todd Reeing, right, calls organizes a huddle during a playoff game. At 5-foot-11 Reeing is short for a quarterback, but put up big numbers during his high school career.
Trailing Alamo Heights with less than two minutes to play in his first playoff game, he led Lake Travis on a 72-yard drive that featured a three-
In his second playoff game, he threw for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns before the Lake Travis defense gave up a last-minute touchdown to lose 37-35.
He said he had the physical ability to have Flutie-like success, but admitted that, at the college level, that alone wasn't enough.
"The main adjustment is mental," he said. "You have to realize that defenses are a lot more complex in college. That's the hardest thing. Once you figure that out, I think your natural ability will allow you to succeed."
vantage adjusting
No matter how hard it gets, he plans to use his height as motivation, just like he did in high school.
But at Kansas, he will have even more to prove.
As a Jayhawk, he will have the opportunity to get some revenge and prove that you don't have to be tall to be a winner.
"I'll get to play against some coaches that didn't give me a chance," he said. "And I can prove them wrong."
Reesing will have an ad- - Edited by Jonathan Kealing
F
-
A religi Univ the take Miro "Spe Intelism, thole
I caree Okla religi
Ev and class there toler
I, person the p
Ou us to ful of did n them.
Ou the le
▼TA
Austin
864-485
Jonatha
864-485
Joshua
864-485
Matthew
864-492
Sarah C
John M
864-446
Malcolm adviser
864-7667
Jennifer adviser 864-7666