Everything is going Ryan Reynolds' way
Healthy OU linebacker gets another shot at Texas
By Jake Trotter, Staff Writer
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Published: October 15, 2009
NORMAN — Moments after linebacker Ryan Reynolds left the field with his third major knee injury last season, Texas used its new formation to attack the very spot Reynolds vacated.
Ryan Reynolds is tripped up on an interception return by BYU’s Matt Reynolds, bottom, during action earlier this season. Reynolds is second on the team in tackles and sacks, with the interception and a forced fumble. Photo By Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
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Out of a four-wide set, the Longhorns exploited the middle of the field with quick passes. And with Reynolds unable to steady the young linebackers charged with stopping those underneath passes, Oklahoma’s defense collapsed and Texas rallied for a 45-35 victory.
"When Ryan went out, there was really nobody to call the defense,” recalled weak-side linebacker
Travis Lewis, then a freshman. "We were making the wrong calls, weren’t making the checks we were supposed to.
"It was all downhill from there.”
But this season, OU’s calming presence is back yet again this season at middle linebacker and ready to avenge the disasters of last season’s Red River Shootout.
"It means a lot for Ryan and for us to have him back again,” said defensive coordinator
Brent Venables. "It’s very remarkable, to say the least.”
It’s remarkable Reynolds can even walk, much less play football.
In 2006, he tore the ACL in his left knee during an off-season, 7-on-7 drill involving no contact.
In 2007, he severed the lateral cruciate ligament in his right knee during spring practice.
And finally last season, Reynolds suffered the ACL tear in his right knee.
But each time, Reynolds has rehabbed his way back to the field.
"Just a tough kid,” coach
Bob Stoops said. "A competitor and a hard-working guy.”
The most recent knee injury, however, proved to be the most devastating. Both for him and the
Sooners.
Heading into last year’s Red River Shootout, Reynolds was playing the best football of his life. The week before the Texas game, Reynolds earned a 100 percent grade from Venables. Never before had Venables awarded a perfect score, and Venables coached two Butkus Award winners.
"I was feeling real good,” Reynolds said. "Everything was going my way.”
He was also arguably the most valuable player on a defense breaking in a pair of first-year starters at outside linebacker in
Keenan Clayton and Lewis.
"He called the defense,” Lewis said. "He made the checks, told everyone what was coming.”
What came next, though, was a blow that sent the Sooner defense into a temporary tailspin. Toward the end of the first half against Texas, Reynolds felt a tweak in his knee. He played until halftime. But on the second series of the second half, his knee gave way.
An after that, so did the Sooner defense.
"Not being out there to take control and make some checks and make some calls,” Reynolds said. "It was painful.”
All Reynolds could do was watch from the sideline. He kept his helmet on, to prevent everyone from seeing his pain.
"I wanted to hide away,” he said. "Keep my thoughts to myself.”
But that sulking only lasted the weekend. By Monday, Reynolds turned his thoughts to returning this season.
"Ryan is a fighter,” Lewis said. "Whatever happens to him, he’s going to come back at you full speed.”
With three knee surgeries now in his past, Reynolds might not be back to the speed he played with last season.
"I can’t say I feel the same,” said Reynolds, who is currently petitioning the
NCAA for a medical hardship so he can gain another season of eligibility. "But I feel good.”
The latest knee injury hasn’t stopped the senior, however, from continuing to play at a high level. Reynolds is second on the team in tackles and sacks and also has an interception and a forced fumble.
And Saturday, despite the odds a year ago he’d never play again, Reynolds will be leading the Sooner defense against Texas once more.
"It shows what kind of person he is,” Lewis said. "I wouldn’t want to play with anyone else.”
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Anyways, I respect Reynolds and really feel for the guy, but he (understandably) just doesn't have the wheels like he used to. They've got to find a way to help him out in the middle of the field.