Tony Sands and Nick Reid will be inducted into Kansas football’s Ring of Honor this year
LAWERENCE — Tony Sands and Nick Reid will be inducted into Kansas football’s Ring of Honor at the Jayhawks’ Oct. 7 home game against UCF.
Kansas Athletics announced the upcoming recognition Monday, and described it as the highest honor that can be given to a Jayhawks football letter-winner. Sands and Reid will become the 24th and 25th members of the Ring of Honor. And with their induction, they’ll join a long list of Kansas greats that includes the likes of John Hadl, Chris Harris Jr., Todd Reesing and Darrell Stuckey.
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“Since coming to Lawrence, I have learned more and more about the great impact that both Tony and Nick have had on Kansas Football and their pride of being a Jayhawk,” current Kansas head football coach Lance Leipold said in the release. “Both helped leave Kansas better than they found it and have provided an example for our current players, who are working hard to do the same. Nick and Tony both had the characteristics as players that we want our current team to have. I am excited for both of them and their families to be able to celebrate their careers and have their names inducted into the Ring of Honor on October 7.”
Sands played running back for the Jayhawks from 1988-91, and when he left he held what were the schools records at the time for a career in rushing yards (3,788), rushing attempts (778) and rushing scores (28). His rushing yards and rushing attempts totals still rank second, now, in school history. But no Kansas player has surpassed the 17 times he rushed for 100 or more yards in a game over the course of his career.
Reid played linebacker for the Jayhawks from 2002-05, and his total of 416 tackles currently ranks second in school history. In fact, from 2003-05 he led the team in tackles. He’s the only Kansas player to ever be named the Big 12 Conference’s defensive player of the year, an honor he earned in 2005.
“It means the world to me, and not only me but to every teammate that had a part in it,” Sands said in the release. “It is unbelievable to have this recognition and to know that my name is going to be in the stadium up amongst the greats. When I go into the Ring of Honor, that means everyone that took part in my success goes in and that just means the world to me.”
Reid added in the release, “I am truly honored to be getting this recognition, but I know for a fact, it wouldn’t have happened without my teammates. To think that my children will be able to take my grandchildren to Memorial Stadium and see my name in the Ring of Honor is more than I could have ever dreamt about. I am forever grateful to be a Jayhawk. Rock Chalk!”
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KU football Ring of Honor will include Tony Sands, Nick Reid in 2023
