After Saturday’s spring game, Western Illinois head coach Joe Davis announced inside linebacker Nick Reinickie (51) as one of the team captains. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Dan Verdun
MACOMB – By his own admission, third-year head coach Joe Davis is “always a little hesitant” to bring players who were previously Power 4 walk-ons into his Western Illinois program.
“Because you just don’t know,” Davis told Prairie State Pigskin. “Why haven’t they played? What happened?”
That, however, hasn’t been the case with inside linebacker Nick Reinickie, who transferred to WIU from FBS Iowa State in January.
“The Iowa State coaches were beating us up about him. They said, ‘You’re going to love him. You’re going to love him.’ We heard that from them,” Davis said.
The Leatherneck staff and players saw it firsthand during winter workouts and spring practices.
“Nick checks a box for us when we recruit in that he’s an exceptional multisport high school athlete. He’s a state champion wrestler who went to Iowa State and played a lot of special teams and a little bit as a backup linebacker,” Davis said of Reinickie, a native of Dike, Iowa, which is about 10 miles west of the University of Northern Iowa campus.
How impressed was Davis and his team?
“Nick has solidified himself here as one of our starting inside linebacker. We expect a big season from him,” Davis said.
The players, meanwhile, voted Reinickie as one of its six captains that were announced after Saturday’s spring game at Hanson Field.
“When I heard my name called, it was really special,” Reinickie said. “I never would in a million years thought I’d be a captain of a Division I football program. That means a lot. Leadership is big to me. What I do on the field is good too, but the leadership part is cool. I want to be able to bring the guys with me. That will be a highlight of my career for sure.”
Leadership aside, Reinickie assessed what he brings to the playing field.
“No. 1, I play with my mind. As a Mike (middle) linebacker, I’m making sure that everyone on the field knows what he’s doing. I try to play tough, fast and smart.
“I’m a big effort guy. I’m maybe not the biggest or fastest or strongest player, but I give my all 100% of the time. That’s my biggest trait.”
After redshirting his first year at Iowa State, Reinickie appeared in 11 games over the past two seasons with the Cyclones. He made 10 tackles and grabbed an interception before entering the transfer portal this offseason.
Reinickie said the WIU coaching staff was one of the main reasons he chose the Leathernecks.
“I could tell they were on the right track and wanted to win,” Reinickie said. “They cared for me as a person. I had a guy tell me the biggest thing you’re going to remember is the people you do things with, so that’s important to me.”
Reinickie said he had other FCS offers as well as those from NAIA programs. He talked with former high school teammate Noah Epley, who previously played two seasons at WIU, before making his decision.
With spring practices over, Reinickie said he will work on his speed and power in the weight room with strength and conditioning coach Jon Minnis.
“If I could put on five or 10 more pounds of lean muscle, that would be great since it would put me in a great spot to stay healthy and allow me to be physical inside the box,” the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Reinickie said.
“You’ve also got to stay in the film room and keep working on the whiteboard to stay mentally sharp,” he added.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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