Have the Jacksonville Jaguars Found Their Allen Hurns of 2017?
If there’s one thing the Jaguars are good at, it is finding hidden gems among the undrafted free agents.
Allen Hurns and Abry Jones are prime examples of phenomenal college athletes who slipped through the cracks of the NFL draft, and wound up becoming undrafted. Both of these guys however, managed to overcome the adversity of being an undrafted player, survive roster cuts, and become full fledged starters on an NFL roster.
It is not easy. A majority of guys who go undrafted don’t even make the final roster of the team they signed to. Last season out of 11 or 12 guys, only one player, Jarrod Wilson, made the Jaguars final roster. Top tier undrafted free agents are more attracted to teams with worse records and a better chance of making the final roster, than better teams who offer bigger contracts. It happens all the time, you will see undrafted players sign to teams that are offering them less money, than a team that is offering them sometimes up to twice as much.
For teams with not-so-great records like the Jaguars, this is a HUGE advantage. They have a much easier time attracting undrafted talents than most teams among the league. For that reason, the Jaguars are able to grab guys like Allen Hurns for a steal.
Every season, the Jaguars seem to end up finding a hidden gem among their undrafted free agent class. This year, there is one player who seems stands out far among the others.
Meet Hunter Dimick.
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The 6’3″ 268lb defensive end is a force to reckon with. He put up 38 bench press reps at his pro day, which surprisingly beats ALL 330 players who were invited to the 2017 NFL combine. He started 33 of 43 games at Utah, and finished his career as Utah’s all-time sack leader with 29.5 sacks. He was selected as a first team All-Pac 12 his senior year. At his pro day he also ran a 4.75 40 yd dash, which is a decent speed for someone of his size.
On film he does a great job at pursuing the quarterback. He never gives up on the play and shows great movement speed for his size. His strong body could mean trouble for offensive tackles who may have a difficult time blocking him. He’s a well rounded player who was a steal for his position. In the NFL, you can rarely go wrong with signing a low risk, high reward type of player. If the Jaguars are still looking for depth at the defensive end position, this is the guy to do it.
As I read this guys stats and watch some of his film, I can’t help to question how this guy went undrafted. It really shows how easy it can sometimes be to get overlooked in the events leading up to the NFL draft. While it is a little early, I think this guy can really have a decent shot at making the final 53-man roster.
When it comes down to it, I’ll be rooting for him during preseason. This guy has a lot of potential, and I really hope he shows out. Congrats on becoming a Jaguar, and I wish you the best of luck with the start of your hopefully long NFL career.