Wake Forest has again sacrificed size for speed by landing Orville Reynolds, a 5-8, 170-pound running back from Parkland, Fla., who committed to the Deacons earlier this week.
Reynolds, who gained 1,319 yards and scored 16 touchdowns as a junior for Douglas High School, will follow a well-trod path of undersized running backs through the Wake Forest program since Jim Grobe became head coach in 2001. Reynolds is the Deacons' fifth known recruit for the class of 2011.
Chris Barclay, who was 5-10, 170-pounds, set all-time Wake Forest records in rushing yards (4,032), touchdowns (40) and all-purpose yards (4,930) during his career from 2002 through 2005. Tarence Williams, who was 5-10, 170-pounds gained 2,581 yards (fourth most all-time) from 1999 through 2002. And Brandon Pendergrass, a junior who is 5-9, 200-pounds, has gained 927 yards in his first two seasons.
Reynolds ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds during the Wake Forest football camp earlier this month. His coach, Al Lang, said Reynolds had written offers from Marshall and Western Kentucky.
"I know Cincinnati liked him,'' Lang said. "I know Duke liked him. We were waiting for (Florida Atlantic) down here. Even the University of Florida came through and they liked him. They wanted him to come to their camp.
"We were waiting for others, and I'm sure they were close to making offers in writing.''
Lang said that Reynolds has both mental and physical toughness, and the kind of speed that can keep a defense on edge.
"He's very exciting,'' Lang said. "He's a kid who can break for a touchdown any time. He's got excellent vision and quick feet, and he's just a smart kid on the field.''
The other four rising seniors who have committed to Wake Forest are offensive tackle Hunter Goodwin of Baltimore, offensive guard Dylan Intemann of Wake Forest, linebacker Will Harlos of Somerset, Tx., and offensive guard Cody Preble of Lake Worth, Fla.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement