Jordan, Reynolds named state’s top football players

Nick Christensen

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005 | 9:32 a.m.

Take a look at the performance this season of Eric Jordan and Ryan Reynolds, and there's little question that the two are the hottest commodities in Southern Nevada high school football.

Reynolds, a senior, compiled nearly 100 tackles in 2004 and set the tone defensively for Southwest Division champion Bishop Gorman. A tall, strong linebacker, Reynolds' plans this week included visits from BCS schools such as Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin and Notre Dame, and when he's at a national prep all-star game on Saturday in San Antonio, he'll announce which school he has selected.

Not that he needs it on his resume to convince anyone of his skills, but Reynolds was the easy pick for Las Vegas Sun All-State Defensive Player of the Year.

On offense, the decision was a little tougher. But while other players had big roles on successful offenses, nobody meant so much to his team as Las Vegas High junior Eric Jordan. An explosive running back, Jordan had 2,769 yards on 373 carries this season. His 37 touchdowns equated to 222 of Las Vegas' 488 points this season, and his 5,002 career rushing yards are third-best in state history. He too has attracted big-time college interest, but has a little more time to make his choice.

In all-time rushing yards, Jordan trails former Tonopah and UNR star Chance Kretschmer, and current Spring Creek junior James Edwards, the other selection at running back and one of three 3A players chosen to this year's All-State Team. In all, more than 200 suggestions were made for All-State selections when coach and media nominations and all-region teams began coming in after the season ended.

During the two weeks following the 4A title game, the Sun consulted with media outlets and coaches across the state, getting input on players' importance to their team as well as their performance on the field.

Some totals: 4A champion Palo Verde had four players selected, followed by 4A runner-up Las Vegas. McQueen, Cheyenne and Cimarron-Memorial each had two players selected, and 12 schools had one player chosen as first-team all-state.