Charlotte 49ers starting quarterback out against UNC
Charlotte quarterback Chris Reynolds will miss Saturday’s game at 12th-ranked North Carolina with an “upper body” injury, 49ers coach Will Healy said.
Reynolds was hurt against Appalachian State on Sept. 12.
Transfer Dom Shoffner, who started his career at N.C. Central, will start in Reynolds’ place against the Tar Heels. Moving into the backup role behind Shoffner will be sophomore Dylan Ratliff.
Reynolds, one of the top quarterbacks in Conference USA, led the league in passing efficiency (153.6) last season and threw a Charlotte-record 22 touchdown passes. He completed 11 of 30 passes for 140 yards and two interceptions and rushed for 34 yards in the loss Saturday against the Mountaineers.
Healy said Reynolds is out indefinitely and was injured on the first play of the game. On the play, Reynolds threw an incomplete pass to Micaleous Elder and was driven into the turf by Mountaineers linebacker Nick Hampton as he released the ball.
Reynolds ran the ball on the next two plays, including a fumble on third down that he recovered. He would play the entire game.
“Chris tried to fight through it,” Healy said “He’s as tough as nails.”
Healy did not elaborate on what Reynolds’ injury is.
“Here’s my deal, I don’t want to talk about exactly what it is, because I don’t want this to be something down the road that people know about and go after him,” Healy said. “I’m not saying coaches do that. But it’s something that’s going to prohibit him from being able to play this week. Obviously he wants to play. He’s one of the toughest I’ve ever been around.”
Chris Reynolds’ replacement once played at NC Central
Shoffner, who is from Cary, played in six games for N.C. Central in 2018, throwing for 350 yards and rushing for 128. Healy said when the Eagles went through a coaching change, Shoffner decided to transfer to Monroe (N.Y.) College, where he threw for 2,488 yards and 27 touchdowns last season on the junior college level. He also rushed for 441 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
“Dom’s prepared like the starter,” Healy said. “He’s done some really good things. He’ll get a bunch of reps (with the first team) and we’re going to figure out what he feels comfortable with and be able to design an offense around him.”
Shoffner (6-0, 209 pounds) is bigger than Reynolds (5-11, 192).
“He can execute really well with some of our (run, pass, option) stuff,” Healy said. “He throws a really good deep ball and he’s got a good presence about him.
“He just happened to go up against a guy (in Reynolds) that we thought was an all-conference-type player. So we felt really good about both of them. Now it’s Dom’s time to step up and take the lead.”
Healy also said defensive end Markees Watts is questionable for Saturday’s game with a lower body injury.
49ers linebacker Luke Martin said the team will obviously miss Reynolds, for however long he’s out.
“It was a huge loss,” Martin said. “But we know Dom ... was made to step in at any time. He’s a leader. We all trust Dom, but not having Chris out there does hurt. Just because of the person he is and the leader he is. But we believe Dom can come in and play a really good game Saturday.”
Said running back Aaron McAllister: “(Shoffner) knows he’s the next guy and anything can happen. We just need him to be ready to focus in. We just need him to play his game.”
49ers notes
▪ Game time for the 49ers’ home opener against Georgia State on Sept. 26 has been moved from 6 p.m. to noon (ESPNU).
▪ McAllister now owns longest kick return (97 yards last week against App State) and run (89 yards in 2017 against Western Kentucky) in 49ers history. Both went for touchdowns.
▪ A few 49ers-Tar Heels connections: UNC co-defensive coordinator Jay Bateman was an assistant coach at Richmond in 2004 when Healy was a backup quarterback for the Spiders; Charlotte cornerback Trey Bly’s dad is UNC cornerbacks coach Dre Bly.
▪ Former 49ers athletics director Judy Rose will be inducted into the Conference USA second hall of hall class. Rose, who retired in 2018, spent 28 seasons as the 49ers’ AD. Among her accomplishments: She was the first woman to serve on the NCAA’s Division I men’s basketball committee; added seven sports during her tenure, including football in 2013; oversaw $100 million in facilities additions and expansions.
She’s the second person from Charlotte in the conference’s hall of fame , joining soccer goalkeeper Jon Busch, who was a member of the inaugural class.
Others going into this year’s class are Rice tennis player Natalie Beazant, Houston baseball player Brad Lincoln, Louisville football player Dave Ragone and Tulane baseball coach Rick Jones.
Charlotte at UNC
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill
Watch: RSN
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 1:15 PM.