University of Memphis Athletics
A Rehrer Find - Tannar Rehrer Feature
Oct 18, 2011 | Football
Oct. 18, 2011
By Adam K. Moussa
When head coach Larry Porter took the reins of his alma mater's football program in November of 2009, he and his newly-formed coaching staff set out in search of the best prep football talent the world had to offer.
In only three short months, Porter assembled a 2010 signing class that included over 25 high school and junior college standouts from 10 states and two continents.
Included in this highly-touted, potential-laden class was Tannar Rehrer, a six-foot, 180-pound possession receiver with a story, and a lifestyle, unlike any of his peers.
Born the youngest of seven children to a devout Mormon family in Orem, Utah, Rehrer, a coach's son, grew up with a football in his hands and ambition in his heart.
"My family is a real football family," said Rehrer. "My dad played at Idaho State and went on to coach all of his sons in high school. Early in life, I realized that I wanted to play Division 1 football and carry on the family tradition."
By age 10, Rehrer was making strides towards his goal, working out and catching passes from some of the best players in the Utah Valley, including a few star athletes he knew quite well.
"All of my brothers were amazing players," said Rehrer. "My brother Casey went on to play quarterback at Southern Utah, and he taught me a lot about how to be a good receiver. They all inspired me to follow in their footsteps and be the best player I could be."
Implementing techniques learned from his brothers, Rehrer went on to star as a standout wide receiver at Springville High School under the tutelage of his father, Red Devils' offensive coordinator, Randy Rehrer.
"Playing for my dad was amazing. He was hard on me because he always wanted me to live up to my potential, but he knew when to be a coach and when to be a father," said Rehrer. "He taught me a lot about life and the game, and I owe him so much for that. I am also thankful that my mom was so supportive of all of us through all the years of playing ball."
A career night versus Timpview High headlined Rehrer's SHS career, grabbing eight passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a pair of unassisted tackles and an interception on defense.
His video game-like statistics earned Rehrer Gatorade Offensive Player of the Year, Elite 11 and Class 4A All-State honors as a senior, helping to put him on the radar of some of the most prestigious football programs in the nation. And while Rehrer appeared to be on the right path on the field, deficiencies in the classroom would redirect his journey to Division 1 stardom.
"Academically, I struggled throughout high school. I was all about playing ball and getting to the next level," Rehrer recalls. "I never focused in on my education like I should have, and after high school I had to make up for that."
With plans of boosting his GPA and signing a Division 1 scholarship after one year, Rehrer enrolled at Dixie State Community College, a south Utah junior college known for producing D-1 prospects. But, before he even had a chance to attend classes there, commitments off the field forced another change in plans.
"I left Dixie to start working and providing for my family," said Rehrer. "I was getting married and I had a baby on the way, so I needed to take time and concentrate on raising my family."
For the next three years, Rehrer umpired youth baseball games, sold mobile phones and bussed tables at nearby restaurants to pay the family bills. In his free time, Rehrer stayed connected to the game by competing alongside his brothers and friends in local flag football leagues.
In fact, it was on a flag football field where Rehrer received the encouragement he needed to make up for lost time. Wise words from an old friend and former University of Kentucky wide receiver, Aaron Boone, were enough to convince Rehrer not to give up on his childhood dreams.
"My brothers and I have been good friends with Aaron for a very long time. He played on our flag football team, and he was the one who encouraged me to give college football another shot," said Rehrer. "He told me that if I didn't give it another go, I would regret it for the rest of my life. After thinking about it and discussing it with my wife, I realized that he was right. I knew that I didn't want to go through life with `what-ifs' hanging over my head."
Soon after re-committing himself to football, Rehrer landed at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Ariz. At the Phoenix-area JUCO, Rehrer enrolled in up to 21 hours per semester in the classroom and became an NJCAA all-star on the gridiron. In the process of becoming the Thunderbirds' leading receiver, Rehrer befriended Mesa defensive end Daniel Thomas, a Mississippi native and future Tiger teammate.
"Playing alongside `DT' in Arizona was a lot of fun," said Rehrer. "He was being recruited by Memphis and his success helped me get my foot in the door. Coach Kevin McGiven came out to recruit Daniel, and he told me that if I got my grades together, he would have a spot for me with the Tigers as well."
After receiving the necessary academic marks, Rehrer made the two-day, 1,400-mile trek to the Bluff City to join the Tigers for training camp.
As Rehrer journeyed cross country, his wife Maggie remained at home to care for the family.
"Maggie is my rock. I tell her that all of the time," said Rehrer. "She has made so many sacrifices throughout this journey. She has moved multiple times and had to restart her life, and that has been tough on her. But, I know that no matter what happens she will always be right there with me watching my back."
Once with the Tigers, Rehrer engulfed himself in football, wasting no time finding a niche within the Tigers' offense.
"As soon as I got to Memphis, I tried to gain the trust of both the players and coaches," Rehrer stated. "So much of the game of football is about trust, and knowing that you can depend on the guys around you. I feel like I earned the guys trust and that helped me to get on the field early in the year."
Following the conclusion of training camp, Maggie and the couple's three children moved to their current home in Cordova, where they witnessed Rehrer see action in all 12 of the Tigers' 2010 contests.
This season, Rehrer, now 25, has thrived in the Tigers' new spread-oriented offensive attack, recording his first touchdown and posting four-consecutive games with over 50 yards receiving.
Versus MTSU, the sure-handed Rehrer snagged a career-best 10 catches for 72 yards, becoming the first Tiger wide-out to eclipse the 10-reception mark since Duke Calhoun did so in 2009. Most impressive about Rehrer's single-game reception tally was that seven of his grabs resulted in first downs, helping to keep drives alive and instilling confidence in the Tigers' youthful offense. He set a new career mark last week with 11 catches for 89 yards at Rice.
"Converting first downs is something that I take a lot of pride in," said Rehrer. "Sometimes the biggest plays aren't the 60-yard touchdowns. The three-yard slants on third down to keep a drive alive are what set up the scoring plays. When you move the ball down the field and convert first downs, it instills so much confidence in an offense, and that really helps to build momentum."
As for confidence, that is a trait which Rehrer has become well known for throughout his time with the Tigers.
"I'm not the biggest guy, and often times I'm not always the fastest guy on the field, but I love the game of football and I am going to give it my all every time I step out there. I think to play wide receiver, at this level, you have to have a lot of confidence in yourself," said Rehrer. "You have to honestly believe that you are going to catch every ball thrown your way. Some people call me cocky and things like that, and I don't intend to come off that way, but my family and I have so much invested in this dream that I refuse to doubt myself."
Upon graduation, Rehrer plans to pursue a career in coaching. But, for now, the senior seems satisfied simply living in the moment -- a not-so-rare sentiment, expressed by a very "Rehrer" player.
"Making it here has been such a blessing and I don't take any of it for granted," said Rehrer. "I am living out my childhood dreams and not too many people get to say that. Right now, I am just trying to be a sponge and soak it all in. It has been a wild ride, but I have loved every minute of it."
