After years of trouble, Jaz Reynolds is finally getting the opportunity to contribute to the Sooners and his role is paying off. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
NORMAN — Jaz Reynolds afforded
himself a quick glance at Oklahoma
Memorial Stadium’s scoreboard
while registering a record-setting
82-yard catch against Tulsa.
The senior didn’t see anyone near
him. But he knew
he wasn’t alone.
He heard the
cheers of 84,000
Oklahoma fans.
Reynolds was
back on the field
contributing to
Oklahoma’s success.
It’s a place
he’s wanted to
be for quite some
time.
Reynolds missed the 2012 season
for a team rules violation. There’s
been no public disclosure on what
Reynolds did. But one-year suspensions
are never good.
Reynolds also had trouble during
the 2010 season when he was suspended
indefinitely for insensitive
tweets following a tragedy at the
University of Texas.
By fall camp, Reynolds worked
his way back on the team. Some say
it wasn’t easy by any means.
Now Reynolds wants to put his past troubles in a rearview mirror.
“The first couple of years,
I lacked in the leadership
department,” Reynolds said.
“Just being away from the
team and being able to come
back and having the opportunity
to come back was a
blessing. I had to show my
scars and show how much
I’ve been through.”
Reynolds’ on-field performance
hasn’t been questioned.
The 6-2, 198-pounder
has 58 catches for 1,092 yards
and five touchdowns in his
career. He’s also started seven
games and is coming off a
four-catch, 109-yard performance
against Tulsa.
“I was excited for him, to
see him out there making
plays again,” OU coach Bob
Stoops said. “He played well
and he’s doing what he needs
to stay on the field.”
Overcoming off-the-field
missteps are where Reynolds’
biggest challenges have been.
Last year’s one-year penalty
forced deep soul searching.
“There were plenty of
tough days. I had a tough year.
I was taught to make every
day the best day of your life,”
Reynolds said. “You only have
one (life). You’re living and
make the best of what you
have right now. Coming up
here and knowing that you’re
not going to be able to play.
You have to practice hard and
keep going. You have to grow
up and work hard every day.”
Did the thought of just
leaving the Sooners program
and starting fresh somewhere
else ever enter his mind?
“I was taught growing up to
never quit,” Reynolds said. “I
could have transferred but in
my mind that would be quitting
and running away from
your problems. You can persevere
through it and keep
going and there’s always light
at the end of the tunnel.”
The Tulsa game could have
been a start. It was the third
100-yard game of his career
and he became the 29th player
to log 1,000 career receiving
yards.
“There are great lessons for
all of our guys in what happened
today,” Oklahoma cooffensive
coordinator Josh
Heupel said after the TU victory.
“Jaz Reynolds, the ups
and downs he’s been through,
staying the course and competing,
and having the opportunity
to come out and make
plays that he did today.”
Added Sterling Shepard:
“It was great to see him have
a game like this. I always wish
my teammates the best, especially
the wide receivers. He
had a big catch at the beginning
and just kept rolling
throughout the day. With all
the ups and downs ... it’s just
great to see him have a game
like that.”
Reynolds managed a quick
grin when talking about the
82-yard catch. He was tackled
at the Tulsa 4. Why wasn’t it
an 86-yard scoring reception?
“I was five yards too late on
my (last) cut and (the Tulsa
player) grabbed me,” Reynolds
said. “I think it was Darnell
(Walker) that caught me.
I know he’s pretty fast, but it
still sucks.”
The play set up a field goal
in the 51-20 rout over the
Golden Hurricane. It feels
good, he said, just helping the
team.
“I really don’t have any
(personal goals),” he said. “I
just want to get to Pasadena.
That’s the whole thing for
me. I had a good season before
but it ended pretty bitter
because we went to the Insight
Bowl.
“This year, I just want to
help the team get to Pasadena.
If that means getting
1,000 yards, I’ll get 1,000
yards.
“If it means getting a bunch
of pancakes, I’ll get a bunch
of pancakes. Whatever it
takes to get to Pasadena.”
Eric Bailey 918-581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
