Prior to the 2011 college football season, most ISU football fans probably knew Darius Reynolds was on the team, but may not have considered him a big-time player that would make highlight-reel plays.

Through five games in the 2011 season, however, “Money” Reynolds — a nickname his oldest brother gave him when he was 10 years old for his “consistency at always being one of the top players on the field” — has shown he’s perfectly capable of being an impact player.

“I think [his play] is ever-improving,” said coach Paul Rhoads. “The production is increasing. He was the physical force Saturday night [against Baylor] we were counting on him to be as this season rolled along. He’s doing the things right now we believed he was capable of doing all along.”

Reynolds, who was announced Tuesday as being added to the Biletnikoff Award — the award given to the nation’s most outstanding receiver — watch list, has 26 catches for 488 yards and six touchdowns in the Cyclones’ five games.

Reynolds’ reception total is already one better than it was for the 2010 season, in which he had 25 for 283 yards and two scores.

“This is obviously the best year I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Reynolds said. “One thing I’m doing a little differently [than in the past] is playing with a lot more confidence and using my size to my advantage.”

Rhoads points to Reynolds’ offseason as a big reason why the redshirt senior has seen such increased production this season. The coach said he saw something in Reynolds that was exciting.

“His offseason, from January to August training camp was really good,” Rhoads said. “There was a focus about him, there was an energy he brought to all the workouts and that helped develop that explosiveness that you see on the field.”

Reynolds himself also was adamant, crediting the work he put in during the time from the Cyclones’ final game in 2010 against Missouri through training camp this fall. He said the weight room was the biggest tool he utilized, and added he hit the 400-pound mark for his bench press total.

“I try to use [my strength] to get a little edge … I think that plays a big part in what I’m doing this year,” Reynolds said. “The weight room, I attacked it this offseason.

“When you go in the weight room and you’re lifting with linemen, but you’re still a receiver, that just let’s you know you’re pretty strong. [I] just did a lot to build up my confidence and it’s transferring over to the field.”

While Reynolds has been highlighted on SportsCenter and gotten a lot of attention so far this season for getting into the end zone, he recognizes he still has things to work on. And if you ask his offensive coordinator — who clearly is watching his players for much more than simply making big plays — Reynolds has a lot to work on.

“Darius has showed up in three out of the five of our games,” said offensive coordinator Tom Herman. “Darius has a lot to improve on. He needs to accept coaching and get better at the finer points of playing receiver.

“He’s still out there just running around snatching balls out of the air. Which, don’t get me wrong, is at times what this offense needs, so I’m excited for what having that ability allows us to do as an offense, but he’s certainly an unfinished product right now.”

Reynolds, to his credit, echoed what his coach said Tuesday night following practice that the holding calls the last few weeks were crucial.

“I need to work on adjusting my hands,” Reynolds said. “I like to block. I don’t have a problem blocking all day, driving the [defensive back] down the field, but I’ve got to eliminate the holding calls. Every day there’s some little things that you can find to work on and I try to do that.”

If Reynolds can harness his abilities and develop the fundamental skills that Herman talked about, Rhoads believes the sky is the limit for the Woodbridge, Va., native.

“It’s a long way up, if there is [a ceiling for Reynolds],” Rhoads said. ” He is still in the infant stages of being a receiver. He’s got all the natural skills necessary to be a great receiver. I hope he gets the chance to reach that ceiling.”