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Iowa State University Athletics
Darius and Darius Seeing the Game From Both Sides
04.08.2011 | Football
AMES, Iowa – Plagued by injuries in previous seasons, Iowa State football players Darius Darks and Darius Reynolds hope to take what they've learned on the field and the sidelines into their final seasons as Cyclones. For the wide receivers unit to be successful in 2011, both Darks and Reynolds will need to stay healthy.
“It's going to be a big key for us offensively having both Darius Reynolds and Darius Darks stay healthy,” Iowa State wide receiver coach Courtney Messingham said. “I need them mentally to stay tuned to the game and be great leaders. The more they're on the field, the more they're making plays and the easier it is for them to be that leader.”
Darks, a senior, had an outstanding freshman campaign in 2008, setting an ISU freshman record with 47 receptions. Since his initial collegiate season Darks has pulled both hamstrings on numerous occasions, forcing him to end both 2009 and 2010 early.
It's been over a year since Darks has been seriously injured and while it was tough on the Austin, Texas native, Darks can take the knowledge he gained off the field onto it this season. Instead of only knowing what to do, Darks says he now knows why to do it.
“Sometimes when you're outside looking in you see things a little clearer,” Darks said. “Now you can understand why you're doing something rather than just doing what you're told. Things start to make sense a little bit more.”
This spring Darks has focused on staying healthy. The 6-foot-1-inch receiver has reverted back to the basics.
“I'm still taking the precautions with stretching so I can stay healthy, but now I'm more focused on the techniques and the fundamentals of playing the game,” Darks said. “I tend to play the game standing up straight. I need to focus more on playing low with my knees bent.”
Messingham doesn't set individual goals for his receivers, but does challenge them to set their own realistic goals. Messingham has seen Darks' mentality improve. The Cyclone understands the offense as whole.
Darks has experience at all three wide receiver positions in his Iowa State career, making him a key element to the offense's fluidity.
“Darius Darks has just done a great job of understanding the entire offense,” Messingham said. “He's played every wide receiver position and knows them well. He's able to fit himself in at any position and that helps us tremendously.”
Reynolds, a transfer from Reedley Community College, had 13 receptions for 72 yards in 2009 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in just the fourth game of the season. Reynolds saw his time off the field as a chance to become somewhat of an assistant coach.
“Anytime you have a serious injury like either one of us did, the only thing you can really do is prepare for next season is get in the playbook, study the plays, ask the coach why he does this or that,” Reynolds said. “We still paid attention at practice and tried to be somewhat assistant coaches.”
Reynolds used his time on the sidelines to study opposing teams' coverage to see how they play out of their line. The Woodbridge, Va., native saw it as a pre-snap read from the sidelines, except this time he had more time to look at things since he wasn't on the field taking a look back at the quarterback.
“This spring I'm working a lot on getting off press release, coverage one on one,” Reynolds said. “Some of those manned up situations where it's just me and him and trying to get open as fast as I can.”
Prior to his injury, Reynolds had six catches in Iowa State's season opener in 2010 against North Dakota State for a total of 53 yards. This spring Messingham has been impressed with Reynolds' athletic ability to make plays.
“Darius Reynolds has gone up and caught the ball up above his head,” Messingham said. “He's really done a good job of going and attacking the football.”
As a wide receiver unit, Messingham has talked to the Cyclones about making plays. Whether it be running a go route, coming down with the ball for a 25-yard gain, or taking the opportunity to turn a would-be 5-yard gain into a 20-yard play.
As senior leaders, Darks and Reynolds will play a vital role in keeping everyone mentally focused for each repetition and snap. What may sound simple is something Messingham sees as incredibly important because in his mind mental mistakes must total zero.
“Darks and Reynolds need to be people other individuals can look up to and say, 'hey they're going to go out and work hard every day. They're going to go get themselves in the best shape they can be in and then make plays.'”
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