The calendar has turned to August, and football fans across the nation get more excited with every passing day. August brings with it the begging of school and the beginning of fall football practice.

Trojan wide receiver Chip Reeves hopes that this August also brings him a new beginning.

Reeves sat out the 2011 season due to academic ineligibility. The year away from football and knowing that he only has one more season to show his skills has Reeves focused.

“This is my last year of eligibility, so I know have to perform to the best of my abilities,” Reeves said. “I don’t feel like I’m 100 percent back in to the rhythm yet, so I am running full speed so I can make sure everything from the year before transfers.”

The last time Reeves donned cardinal and black for a game was in 2010. That season Reeves caught 30 passes for 515 yards and five touchdowns. Reeves, a senior from Stone Mountain, Georgia, is known for having great speed, caught three passes for fifty or more yards including a 79 yarder for a touchdown against rival UAB.

Reeves is expected to contribute right away, and add even more depth to an already veteran receiving corps.

“It looked like he never missed a day,” said head coach Larry Blakeney. “He is on board, and a happy Chip Reeves is good for this football team.”

In Troy’s first practice of the 2012 season, Reeves showed that he still has what brought him to the dance – speed. Several times throughout the day, he and Corey Robinson hooked up on deep routes when Reeves got behind the secondary.

The two have been working together since spring practice and look to build on their chemistry in preparation of the new season.

“We have pretty good chemistry with each other,” said Reeves. “He knows when I want the ball, and I pretty much know when he will throw me the ball without us interacting with each other.”

Robinson is happy to have a “home run” threat like Reeves back in the rotation at wide receiver.

“Chip is a great football player,” said Robinson. “I think he will slide back in to his role, and that is going long and making plays for us.”

Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield agreed with Robinson that Reeves is a great addition.

“We are all excited to have Chip back” said Edenfield. “He showed us today that he can still get down the field. Corey is good at throwing to open guys, and when Chip is open we will be good.”

Reeves was happy to receive a second chance, and knows that it is not a thing to waste. Jamel Johnson, a wide receiver, sat out 2011die to academic issues as well. Earlier this week it was announced that Johnson would be academically ineligible this season as well. Blakeney said that his time at Troy is probably over.

“Getting sent home taught me not to things for granted,” Reeves said. “A lot of people would like to play college football and I almost blew it. I focus on that every day when I wake up.”