Who Is Jacksonville Jaguars Receiver Allen Hurns?

If you are a fan of the University of Miami’s football program, this question isn’t for you. If you’re not, you might be asking yourself, ‘who is Allen Hurns?’ During his time at Miami, Allen Hurns was one of the most electric players in the program’s history. Being that the UM has produced the eighth most NFL Hall of Famers, that is a pretty bold statement. Outside of Miami, many people fail to realize that Hurns set the school’s single-season school record with 1,162 receiving yards in his senior season with the Hurricanes. Despite the immense amount of talent, Hurns went undrafted. With a chip on his shoulder, the rookie wide receiver is ready to prove the 31 team’s who doubted him, wrong.  

It didn’t take long for Hurns to leave his mark on the Jaguars. In the team’s second preseason game against the Chicago Bears, Hurns lead the team in receiving, catching four balls for 74 yards. The following week, Hurns followed his breakout performance with an even better game — dominating the Lions secondary — finishing with seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.

At the end of the preseason, Hurns was the NFL’s leading receiver and his unexpected performance ensured him a spot on the 53 man roster.

Due to the holes left by Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon (Shorts, injured; Blackman, suspended), the Jaguars quickly integrated Hurns into their offense. Hurns quickly realize he needed to make the most of the opportunity given to him. In a week one match up against the Eagles, Hurns caught four passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. He was also targeted on 9 occasions.

In addition to leaving his mark on the Jaguars, Hurns entered elite company on Sunday. With his first two receptions being touchdowns, Hurns became the second receiver in NFL history to record touchdowns on his first two catches.

Hurns is definitely a player to keep your eye on in the coming weeks. He has the potential to turn into a consistent player for the Jaguars. It will certainly be interesting to how Hurns responds after a great debut. Personally, I hope he continues to succeed.