Football | 8/22/2024 5:10:00 PM

Just ahead of the start to the 2024 campaign, the Utah Tech University Football program announced on Thursday that junior running back Chris Street has been awarded the No. 3 jersey for the upcoming season.

The awarding of the No. 3 jersey is the fifth instance in what has become an annual tradition honoring the memory of former Trailblazer football player Abraham Reinhardt, who tragically passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2019.
 
First year head coach Lance Anderson noted that he recently took some time to get familiar with the story of Reinhardt, both as a student-athlete and as a young man. He quickly realized the importance and the impact this tradition has on the Trailblazer football program, a tradition he is very eager to continue."    

"Once I heard the story about Abe Reinhardt, the kind of person he was, the kind of football player he was, and his tragic passing, I was very touched and felt like this is something we need to continue," said Coach Anderson. "I felt it was very important that our team understands who he was and what this jersey truly represents.
 
"I have been impressed by Chris since I got here," Coach Anderson added. "His outgoing personality, his positive outlook, and I really feel like he also represents all the other traits that we talked about what this jersey represents. Toughness, hard work, accountability, trust, leadership – Chris demonstrates all those qualities, and I think he'll do a great job wearing that jersey and representing Abe."
 
Street (5-9, 210; Eastvale, Calif./Jserra Catholic HS/California) played in all 11 games in his first season as a Trailblazer in 2023. The Cal transfer finished second on the team in carries (64), yards (410) and rushing touchdowns (2) in his debut campaign. 
 
The posted a career-high 78 yards on 10 carries at Colorado State (9/30/23), and scored both of his touchdowns and carried the ball seven times for 62 yards one week later in Utah Tech's 37-31 home win over Stephen F. Austin (10/7/23).  
 
"This is a big honor, there are a lot of qualities involved in being picked for this number," Street said. "I appreciate the coaches and the staff for believing in me to be a representation of Abe, those are big shoes to fill. 
 
"I have a tattoo on my arm that says 'Bigger Than Me' and it is an honor to represent something bigger than myself," Street went on to say. "This [tattoo] ties all facets of my life. I do this for my family, my enjoyment, and for my brothers on the football team. This is definitely a big honor, it's pressure, but pressure makes diamonds." 
 
In his lone season as a Trailblazer in 2018, Reinhardt earned first team all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors at linebacker after he led or co-led the Trailblazers in three different defensive statistical categories. He recorded a team-high 79 tackles, including 47 solo stops and co-led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss. 

Additionally, Reinhardt collected 3.5 sacks and co-led the Trailblazer defense with three interceptions, highlighted by a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown in a season finale road win at Adams State (11/10/18). That pick-six came one week after he recorded a late fourth quarter interception that helped set up the eventual game-winning touchdown in the Blazers' home upset win over then No. 6 Colorado School of Mines (11/3/18). 

Prior to his arrival to then-Dixie State, Reinhardt played two seasons at Riverside (CA) City College, where he finished with 100 tackles and two interceptions in two seasons. A native of Wailuku, Hawai'i, Reinhardt earned all-Poly All-Star, first team All-MIL, and Special Teams Player of the Year honors as a senior at H.P. Baldwin High School.

Trailblazers Chosen to Wear No. 3 in Honor of Abraham Reinhardt
2021 Spring – D'Arman Notoa
2021 Fall – Malaki Malaki
2022 – Malaki Malaki
2023 – Syrus Webster
2024 – Chris Street

Utah Tech kicks off its fifth season of NCAA D-I FCS play on Saturday, August 31, when the Trailblazers welcome Big Sky Conference power No. 4 Montana State to Greater Zion Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. 

PHOTO CUTLINE - Former Trailblazer tight end Blake Kilgore, along with junior RB Chris Street, Head Coach Lance Anderson and Utah Tech Athletic Trainer Bruno Silva pose in front a photo mural of the late Abraham Reinhardt at Thursday's announcement.