Each year there are hundreds of stories being told during the planning and anticipation of the NFL Draft; the 2017 Draft is no different. Today we will be looking at a scouting report for senior wide receiver Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M Aggies.
WR-Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M 6’3” 194 lbs.
I’m excited to discuss tall yet skinny, deep threat Josh Reynolds. Even after scoring in eleven of thirteen games in his senior season, Reynold’s value seems to be all over the place. Depending on the last scouting report you read or the last podcast that discussed Reynold’s he could be drafted anywhere from the 2nd round to the last round in fantasy rookie drafts. Since I’m a high school football coach and educator by trade, let’s break down what I saw in the seven games I reviewed of the senior play maker: this year’s Senior Bowl, 2016 contests versus Arkansas, Kansas State, South Carolina, LSU, Mississippi State, and Auburn. Most of these game videos are available via draftbreakdown.com. Here are my thoughts:
Cons: His measurements tell the story of a skinny receiver with a thin frame. During his freshman season at Tyler Junior College, he was just an inch shorter, but twelve pounds lighter at 178 lbs. Can he get thicker and not lose speed? Perhaps, an NFL training routine and diet can help him with that. Reynolds got knocked around in pass patterns by more physical defensive backs and did not face a lot of press coverage (which he will in the NFL). The wide out rounds off a lot of his passing routes and doesn’t create much separation. He will need to clean up his routes with the proper footwork to help get some space between himself and his coverage. Reynolds is more quick than fast using long strides more than most receivers and can body catch when worrying to protect himself.
Pros: Despite being a long strider, the wide out finds a way to get behind defenders as he averaged at least 16.2 yards per reception each season. He usually lined up outside and would occasionally line up stacked behind another receiver in space. Reynolds adjusts his body well to poorly thrown passes, including no-look one handed ones, and looks almost effortless doing it. His long arms and big mitts give him a huge catch radius with soft hands and he couples this with good concentration. The former Aggie tracks the ball well over his shoulder, snares the ball in stride, and can out-leap his coverage to come down with a jump ball near the sidelines. He does a good job shielding the pigskin from defenders with his shoulders/hands and grabs a lot of contested 50/50 balls. Near the end zone, Reynolds makes bucket catches that do not allow defenders to stop him. The wide out comes back to help his quarterback under pressure and is also a good run blocker despite his lack of bulk.
Overall impressions: His skinny frame might scare some NFL and fantasy teams away. It doesn’t take away from his playmaking ability especially deep down the field. Hopefully Reynolds will be able to add ten to fifteen pounds to his frame that would bring his body closer to an A.J. Green or Randy Moss style frame. I have him just inside my top ten rookie receivers and doubt many others feel that way about him.
Thanks for reading. I will continue to discuss my scouting reports with you throughout the next several months, so keep checking the site for more content. Please check out my other content as well. You can also follow me on Twitter @AndrewMiley.
