Jackson Reynolds is fairly typical in terms of the way football players evolve at McLean County High School — a program that has become remarkably consistent on the field by being remarkably relentless in the weight room.
These days, Reynolds is a 6-foot-4, 225 pound senior who starts at both defensive end and offensive guard for the Cougars.
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But it wasn’t like that in the beginning.
“I was always pretty tall for my age, but I remember when I came into the program as a freshman I probably didn’t weigh more than 170 pounds,” Reynolds recalled. “The first thing Coach (Zach) Wagner does when you reach the high school level is get you in the weight room — that’s when it’s time to go to work.
“We all arrive looking like little kids, but after four years in the weight room we leave here looking like grown men. The weight-lifting program here is at the very core of the football program.”
It’s all led to Reynolds becoming a three-year starter for the Cougars, who, after a disappointing 18-0 opening-night loss at home to Muhlenberg County, bounced back in a big way last week in Horse Cave — dominating Caverna, 44-8, behind stellar defense and three touchdowns by fellow senior running back Trokoby Gill.
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“We didn’t have our heads right going into the Muhlenberg game, but we came back with a much better week of practice for the Caverna game, and that showed up last Friday night,” Reynolds said. “In the second week, we had a completely different mindset and we played so much better on both sides of the ball — we got back to being who we are.”
Wagner is appreciative of the player Reynolds has become for the Cougars.
“Jackson is a three-year starter and he is a powerful and explosive player on both sides of the ball,” Wagner said. “Considering how long and rangy he is, he has very impressive weight room numbers.”
Reynolds’ performance is pivotal for McLean County’s vaunted Wing-T attack on offense, and it’s fly-to-the-ball mentality on the defensive side.
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“I have a pretty big role on the offensive line,” he said. “I’ve got to do a good job, play my role well, or it can fall apart pretty quickly. It helps because we’re pretty experienced up front and each player knows what he needs to do to make our running attack work — and it’s all about running the football at McLean County.
“Defensively, I knew when I was a freshman that I needed to get stronger to be effective. I improved enough to be a starter as a sophomore, and then last year, as a junior, I felt like I really came into my own. The more success I experienced, the more my confidence grew.”
In 2024, Reynolds finished with 59 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and a team-leading nine sacks, to help the Cougars go 7-4 against a solid schedule.
Through two games this season, Reynolds has registered 12 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
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Playing football for McLean County has been special.
“Playing here has meant a lot to me, partly because our football program means so much to the entire community,” Reynolds said. “It’s really a lot of run to play here because of the atmosphere, and because of the tradition that’s been established. People have caught onto it because the program has been successful.
“Coach Wagner’s time here has been so great — he means a lot to anyone associated with McLean County football. He cares about his players as people and as students, not just as football players.”
Now, Reynolds and Co. are keen on producing another quality season in Calhoun.
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“We’ve got to stay locked in, play hard, and not lose our confidence to have the kind of season we want to have,” Reynolds said. “The schedule is even tougher this season, but if everyone does their jobs we have an opportunity to have success — we just need to give it our best shot every time we step on the field.”
