RUMOR: Is Jon Reschke returning to Michigan State football?

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NCAA Football: Central Michigan at Michigan State
Sep 26, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Jon Reschke (33) gestures to student section during the 1st half of a game against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The departure of Jon Reschke from the Michigan State football program in February of 2017 added to a long list of attrition and turmoil for the team that culminated in a 3-9 record in 2016.

Reschke and MSU came to a mutual agreement that he leaves the program after making an “insensitive and totally regrettable comment” towards a teammate. It was just a microcosm of any sort of rift with regards to team chemistry. However, a recent image surfacing on social media curiously raises the possibility of Reschke returning to Michigan State.

Part of the decision for Reschke to leave that winter of 2017 was for him to finish his undergraduate studies before transferring out and seeking to play elsewhere that season. However, nothing ever percolated about where and if he even played football this past year.

One of Reschke’s former Michigan State teammates and position mate, linebacker Darien Harris, shed some light on the situation as it became more public. Harris said it was “necessary for the betterment of the team” that Reschke, who Harris said was “probably the best returning defensive player (Michigan State) had” heading into 2017, was no longer part of the program.

Harris, who was teammates with Reschke for two seasons (2014-15), added that teammates collectively hoped Reschke could “find peace and find a way to come back” but just not at Michigan State.

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Reschke, a native of Sterling Heights and a former standout at Birmingham Brother Rice High School, exploded as a breakout performer in his redshirt sophomore season. He finished T-4th with 75 tackles on a 2015 team that went 12-2 and reached the College Football Playoff. Unfortunately, an ankle injury limited Reschke to only two games and 13 tackles in 2016.

It’s going to be very interesting what comes of this, if at all. Again, nothing is concrete here so take everything with a grain of salt. The 2017 season would have technically been his fifth and final year of college eligibility, but Reschke reportedly was going to seek a sixth year from the NCAA, a la former teammate Ed Davis, after missing the final 10 games of 2016.

And even if that bridge is crossed safely, how would his potential return be received by teammates and coaching staff? Reschke owned up to his mistake and willingly agreed to leave Michigan State but given the nature of the situation, it may require more than just approval from head coach Mark Dantonio.