15 DAYS TO 2017 KICKOFF: Zach Reuter
In which BracketCat counts down the 15th day until the 2017 kickoff with a profile of wide receiver Zach Reuter.
By BracketCat Aug 19, 2017, 12:00pm CDT
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It's been a bit of a struggle for Zach Reuter (15) to gain playing time as K-State has upgraded its receiver corps slowly since 2015. This year, it will be even more of a struggle thanks to the arrival of Carlos Strickland II and the continued growth of the Isaiahs (Zuber and Harris).
Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Goal No. 15: LEADERSHIP. Everyone can set the example.
#15 Zach Reuter
True Junior | 6-3 | 197 lbs. | Columbia, Missouri
Zach Reuter
Position: Wide Receiver
Previous College: None
Projection: Third-String
Zachary Cale Reuter (b. March 14, 1996) is a talented wide receiver who did not redshirt, and has contributed on offense and special teams each of the last two seasons. He will look to increase his production during his junior campaign.
Reuter originally signed with K-State in 2014, but deferred his enrollment to the spring of 2015.
He started over Dominique Heath for the Purple team in the 2016 spring game and caught three passes for 23 yards, but did not play in the 2017 spring game.
Reuter played for Rock Bridge High School under head coach A.J. Ofodile and was a unanimous first-team all-state selection by the Missouri Football Coaches Association, which also named him to the all-district team.
Reuter also was selected to the American Family Insurance All-USA Missouri Team and named The Columbia Daily Tribune's Offensive Player of the Year after hauling in 81 catches for 1,545 yards and 24 touchdowns. His receiving yardage ranks sixth in state history, while he finished two touchdowns shy of tying the state record held by former Missouri and Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
Reuter totaled 140 receptions in his two-year varsity career, and broke school career records for yards (2,317) and touchdowns (33). He was named all-district as a junior and played basketball.
In 2015, Reuter played in 11 games, including a start in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas. He caught six passes for 47 yards and had season highs in catches (three), yards (27), and long catch (12) against the Razorbacks. Reuter also hauled in a 9-yard reception against TCU and a 10-yard catch at Texas Tech.
Last year, he backslid a little due to the arrival of Byron Pringle, the return to full health of Dominique Heath, and the development of freshmen Isaiah Harris, Isaiah Zuber and former Wildcat Corey Sutton, two of whom did not even redshirt.
Reuter saw action in 13 games in 2016, catching two passes for 22 yards — a career-long-tying 12-yarder at Oklahoma and one that went for 10 yards at Baylor. He also was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 performer who was one of only seven players — including two from K-State — to be nominated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
Many did not expect Reuter to make much of an impact at the collegiate level — he had no stars on Rivals — but I think his high school production speaks for itself. If nothing else, I hope he does become successful mostly so we can make fun of Missouri for not locking him up when he grew up in the Tigers' back yard.