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Former Syracuse RB Reyes dies at 36
Struthers Hall of Famer scored 20 TDs in 2003
By Brian Dzenis
STRUTHERS
A Struthers High School Hall of Famer and superb running back at Syracuse University died unexpectedly on Sunday.
Walter Reyes, Syracuse’s second all-time rusher and leader in rushing touchdowns, died at 36.
Cause of death has not been released from the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office.
“People are shocked — crushed — he had a lot of people that liked him,” said Simon Arias, a former Ursuline football player who was a longtime friend of Reyes. “I don’t know anybody that didn’t like him.
“He was one of those people who if you didn’t like him, there was something wrong with you,” Arias said. “There’s a lot of people that he affected from Struthers through college.”
Reyes was married and helped raise his wife’s four children while working as a personal trainer for young football players and at a flower shop.
Reyes was at his mother’s house when he experienced stomach pain and was transported to the hospital, according to Syracuse.com. He died shortly thereafter.
Reyes’ mother, Mary Lou Reyes, did not return a call for comment.
Reyes graduated from Struthers in 2000 and was inducted into the Struthers Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
Reyes grew up on Youngstown’s South Side before moving to Struthers while in middle school, Arias said.
Arias, who is from the East Side, struck up a friendship with him as the pair played youth football.
“A lot of people know him for his athletic ability and the time he scored five touchdowns against Notre Dame, but his heart was as good as his 40-time, which was a 4.2,” Arias said. “His heart for people was huge.
“He treated everybody well. He cared about everyone. He always had a big smile.”
Reyes didn’t suit up for the Struthers varsity team until his sophomore year.
“Freshman year, he just wasn’t interested in playing. I never really knew why,” said Steve Procick, a former Struthers teammate and workout partner. “He came out his sophomore year and I’ll never forget it.
“It was the last game of the year against Poland and he busts and 80-or-90 yarder for the game-winning touchdown and that was kind of when he came on the scene.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this kid is for real and he’s only a sophomore.’”
At Syracuse, Reyes ran for 3,424 yards, ran for 45 touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 550 yards. His numbers place him ahead of football legends like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Larry Csonka.
His breakout season came in 2003 — his junior year — when he ran for 1,347 yards and 20 touchdowns. He entered his senior season as a Heisman candidate, but a knee injury ruined his season and NFL prospects. After college, Reyes signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans but never played in the NFL.
He is survived his wife, Yolanda and four stepchildren.
A GoFundMe page, gofundme.com/funeral-for-walter-reyes, has been set up to help the family cover funeral costs. A date for the service hasn’t been released.
“He was a loyal friend, a loving son. He had the heart of a lion while having a heart of gold at the same,” Arias said.