Allen Hurns: Comfortable and Ready To Contribute

Aug 22, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) runs into the end zone after making a catch for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Allen Hurns has been a fantastic surprise for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2014 preseason. The undrafted rookie wide receiver is the definition of a diamond in the rough, showcasing his skills through the preseason games.

Hurns tops the stat sheet with his eye-popping 14 receptions for 232 yards and his first NFL touchdown. While Hurns has been playing against a lot of players who may not be starting in the NFL, his emergence has certainly made the coaching staff a lot more comfortable heading into the season. Hurns has outperformed every wide receiver taken in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. For the Jaguars, it’s looking more and more like a steal.

Naturally, Hurns was expecting to get drafted in the 2014 draft. With an impressive senior season at Miami, catching 62 balls for 1162 yards and six touchdowns, Hurns showed he had the skills to take it to the next level. But during the circus of the NFL Draft, his name was not called. “At the end of the day, that just gave me a lot of motivation,” he told Brian Sexton in a A Few Good Minutes on Jaguars.com. Like many other successful undrafted players, Hurns brought his passion to the football field and it has shown. “It humbles you a lot,” he told Sexton but “once you get here, it doesn’t matter how you got here.”

Based on his play thus far, all that matters for the Jaguars is that he is here and that he can be a part of their rebuilt offense.

During his interview, Hurns spoke a lot about how comfortable he has been coming to Jacksonville. Coming from Miami he is familiar with Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch and feels that has helped him step in, not have to think about the plays so much, and focus on just getting better. In comparison to his peers it is apparent that Hurns is very comfortable. He is comfortable in Fisch’s offense, comfortable with Blake Bortles at quarterback, and he embodies the keep getting better mantra of head coach Gus Bradley.

Hurns has arrived at the Jaguars ready to work hard and prove that he belongs out on the football field. As he said in his own words, it doesn’t matter how you got here it just matters that you can play.