Reuland: I wasn't happy with where I was
ERIC HANSEN
Tribune Staff Writer
Konrad Reuland boarded a plane bound for California Monday afternoon, not knowing what the next step in his football future would look like.
He just knows it won’t happen at the University of Notre Dame.
“Basically, it came down to the fact I wasn’t happy with where I was,” the 6-foot-6, 255-pound sophomore from Mission Viejo, Calif., told the Tribune via cell phone Monday. “It was combination of things, not just football, not just the school. I wanted badly to be happy again, and felt this move was the best thing for me.
“I realize Notre Dame is a very special place. I wouldn’t have picked it from all the schools in the country if it wasn’t. But it didn’t work out for me on a personal level. I felt the change was the best.”
Reuland, who met with Irish head coach Charlie Weis on Sunday, becomes the third top 100 prospect form ND’s vaunted sophomore class to leave Notre Dame in the past three months, joining quarterbacks Zach Frazer (Connecticut) and Demetrius Jones (Northern Illinois or TBA).
“After meeting with Konrad Reuland on Sunday, he has decided he will leave the team and withdraw from Notre Dame,” Weis said Monday in a statement. “I appreciate all Konrad has done for Notre Dame, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Reuland was regarded as the nation’s top tight end prospect coming out of Mission Viejo High School two years ago, but his playing time at Notre Dame has been limited and he did not catch a pass in a game during his time at ND.
In 2006, he played roughly 18 minutes spread over seven games. This season, he saw spot action in three of ND’s first four games.
The hit is more of a perceptual one than one that will affect ND’s depth. Fifth-year senior John Carlson remains the starter. Sophomore Will Yeatman is No. 2, and freshman Mike Ragone, the top tight end prospect nationally in his class, had recently leapfrogged Reuland on the depth chart.
ND has commitments from two standout tight end prospects for next year -- 6-6, 229-pound Kyle Rudolph of Cincinnati, Ohio, and 6-8, 250 Joseph Fauria from Encino, Calif.
“I don’t have any idea where I’ll end up,” Reuland said. “I’m kind of looking forward to going through recruiting again. I want to pick the best school for me for the long run, not the one that feels good today.”
That means trying to rush to get into a school to gain some eligibility in 2008 is not a high priority, “only a tiebreaker if two schools are even,” Reuland said. “You can’t worry about eight games really. I’m not going to rush into anything.”
Stanford, he said, is a possibility. That’s where younger brother Warren Reuland, a 6 -5, 200-pound wide receiver, is verbally committed. But Weis’ policy has been not to release players to schools that pop up on ND’s schedule during the balance of the transfer’s playing career. So getting to Palo Alto could have some entanglements.
Reuland said the thoughts of transferring have been percolating with him for a while.
“This wasn’t an impulsive decision,” he said. “I actually finally made up my mind that I was leaving last Wednesday. I just wanted to make sure I took the right steps to make this as positive a move for everyone involved. I didn’t want to be a distraction for myself, my teammates and the coaching staff. I want the best for them too.”
