Michigan State football: Jon Reschke returns after insensitive comments

Chris Solari | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio talks Jon Reschke, upcoming season Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio previews the upcoming start of preseason camp at the Big Ten football media days in Chicago.

UPDATE: Jon Reschke left Michigan State football program after using N-word in text

CHICAGO — Jon Reschke is back on Michigan State’s football roster, 17 months after issuing an apology for “insensitive” comments that led to his departure.

Spartans coach Mark Dantonio confirmed the decision Tuesday during the final day of Big Ten football media availability but added that it is a “step-by-step process” and that the next phase will be if his players welcome Reschke back for fall camp.

"I talked to our football team and our players and said, ‘Hey, if you guys want him back, then you have to bring him back.’ It has to be a decision made by our African-American players, led by them, and they have to support that."

Reschke issued a statement Feb. 24, 2017, that he, Dantonio and other members of the coaching staff “mutually decided” for the Birmingham Brother Rice graduate to leave the MSU football program and transfer to another school for his final year of eligibility after completing his undergraduate degree in the spring of that year. He did not land on another roster last fall.

That decision was reached based on a racially charged text message sent by Reschke, which the Free Press has reviewed.

“He paid the ultimate price by being out of football for a year,” Dantonio said Tuesday.

Dantonio said Reschke suffered a knee injury and did not transfer. The coach said the players on his team made the decision to bring back Reschke, who will not be on scholarship for his final year.

Reschke received NCAA approval for a medical waiver and sixth year of eligibility in May, according to an MSU spokesman. He played in just two games in 2016 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury as a fourth-year junior, finishing with 13 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception against Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

Dantonio said he does not know how healthy his injured knee is and where he might fit on the depth chart.

Reschke in his apology letter said he “lost control of my emotions and made an insensitive and totally regrettable comment involving a former teammate.”

“In so doing, I have hurt and offended countless number of people, and for that, I am deeply sorry,” Reschke wrote then. “If I could take my comment back, I would do so in a second. I have addressed my teammates and coaches and while many understand my actions were totally uncharacteristic of who I am, the hurt still lingers.”

Dantonio told reporters in late April that he had talked with current players about possibly reinstating Reschke and that he would leave the decision up to them.

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Though Reschke took a redshirt as a true freshman during the 2013 season due to injuries, though he was the Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week leading up to MSU’s win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game that year according to his MSUSpartans.com bio.

The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Sterling Heights native has played in 24 career games at MSU, including 14 during the Spartans’ Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff season in 2015. Reschke had 101 tackles, 6.5 for lost yardage and two sacks from 2014-16.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!