Angry Bird: Josh Reynolds torments pigs, tears down defenses

It is said that one man’s trash in another man’s treasure.

Similarly, what tastes sweet to some must taste sour to others.

Thankfully, Josh Reynolds just couldn’t leave Texas A&M with a sour taste in his mouth.

As the story goes, Reynolds was so disappointed after the Music City Bowl loss to Louisville last season that he could not allow himself to enter the NFL draft. He was reportedly was near tears when he asked for a meeting to inform coach Kevin Sumlin of his intentions to return for his senior season.

“It was evident that after the bowl game when he knocked on my door and said he wanted to come back and be the best he could be that it was great news for the team,” Sumlin said.

It wasn’t great news for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Their fans must be near tears that he didn’t leave.

Reynolds has tormented the pigs more than the angry birds.

In three career games against Arkansas, he caught 11 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns.

In last week’s 45-24 victory over Arkansas, Reynolds caught four passes for 141 yards. That included a pivotal 92-yard touchdown catch.

In 2014 he had a 59-yard catch-and-run for a tying fourth quarter touchdown that enabled the Aggies to win in overtime.

Last year he had a 63-yard fourth quarter catch to set up a crucial Tra Carson touchdown and then caught a two-point conversion that enabled the Aggies to win in overtime last season.

But Reynolds doesn’t just roast pork. He fries chickens, too.

In two previous games against the South Carolina Gamecocks, who the Aggies face on Saturday, Reynolds has 11 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

Actually, Reynolds torments a lot of teams. Thus far in his career he has 120 catches for 2,119 yards and 21 touchdowns.

He’s fast enough to run right by a cornerback like he did against Arkansas and on 51-yard catch against Auburn. He’s also so graceful that he can make an adjustment on a ball and out-leap a defender, which he did on a 40-yard touchdown against UCLA.

“He’s great,” said A&M safety Justin Evans, who’s  often faced Reynolds in practice. “He has length, speed, quickness, runs great routes, he has great hands. Everything has you want in a receiver. He’s a great player.

“When you see plays like that (92-yard touchdown vs.  Arkansas) you’re like, ‘Wow. Okay.’ He's a great player, so I see great things out of him. I’m not surprised by it. He makes great plays because that’s what great players do.”

Perhaps the only surprise is that so few seem to realize how good Reynolds is. Even though he entered the season with 18 career touchdown catches, Reynolds was not among six receivers listed on the preseason All-SEC team.

“Josh Reynolds and I may have talked about him not being on any pre-season lists prior to fall camp,” Sumlin said. “That means there were six guys ahead of him. We talked about it.”

Those six included teammates Christian Kirk and Ricky Seals-Jones, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, LSU’s Malachi Dupre, Mississippi State’s Fred Ross and Arkansas’ Drew Morgan.

Reynolds has more receiving yards (370) than any of them. He had more touchdown catches (3) than everyone except Ross (4) and Kirk (3).

Some players like being ignored. That perceived disrespect fuels their competitive fire. It makes them play with an edge.

Maybe Reynolds is like that.

“I don't know if Josh likes being underrated, but I like that he's on my team,” Sumlin said. “I have pro scouts ask me how fast he is, and I say he's fast enough. Whether he likes that or not, I don't know. He wants to be an elite player.”

Those in Arkansas would swear he already is.