Smith, Reyes are contenders

The Chaney and Struthers graduates are earning preseason honors.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Two Youngstown-area high school graduates are considered Heisman Award candidates this coming collegiate football season.
Brad Smith, a junior quarterback for Missouri from Chaney High, and Walter Reyes, senior running back for Syracuse from Struthers High, are listed among the 26 Heisman candidates in the annual Phil Steele's 2004 College Football Preview magazine published by Northcoast Sports.
Smith, a double threat as a rusher and passer, is ranked No. 8 on the list of prime contenders; while Reyes, an outstanding rusher and touchdown-maker, is No. 25.
Other recognition
Smith, a team captain, also has gained a host of other preseason honors.
He previously was selected as a Heisman candidate by three other publications -- The Sporting News (No. 6), College Football News (No. 8) and Sports Illustrated (No. 9).
Smith also made three All-American teams -- College Football News (first team), Collegefootballnews.com (first team) and Nationalchamps.net (third team).
His other preseason recognition: All-Big 12 Conference (first team), All-Big 12 Player of the Year (College Football News), No. 1 on the ESPN.com "Hot 100," and Davey O'Brien Award candidate as the top quarterback in the nation.
Reyes also was named to the second team on the Lindy's Preseason All-American Team.
Their statistics
Last season, Smith completed 194 of 320 passes for 1,822 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,310 yards and 17 TDs.
After just 25 career games, Smith already has broken Missouri's career total offense record with 6,745 career yards in two seasons.
He also set a school record for the lowest interception percentage of just 1.8 percent on 13 interceptions in 716 career passes.
Reyes last season rushed for 1,347 yards and 20 TDs. He scored 21 TDs in all and 128 points to set Syracuse's single-season records.
He also broke Syracuse's career record for rushing TDs last season with 38.
Reyes ranks No. 2 on the current NCAA Division I list for rushing touchdowns (38), trailing only Cedric Benson of Texas who has 45.
Syracuse will open the season on national television (ABC) on Sept. 5 at Purdue at 1 p.m.
Missouri will open on national television on Sept. 9 at Troy State at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. The game was moved from Sept. 11 to accommodate the TV telecast.
kovach@vindy.com