Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 day-three wide receivers to target
By Dylan Grimm
Jalen Hurd, Baylor: Redshirt Senior (6’4/229)
Jalen Hurd originally started his college career at the University of Tennessee as a five-star recruit and played in 13 games as a true freshman under former Volunteers head coach Butch Jones. After sharing a backfield with now New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly, he decided to transfer from Rocky Top to Waco, Texas to be a Baylor Bear.
In three years at Tennessee, Hurd had 2,635 yards for 20 touchdowns, 67 catches for 492 yards and six additional scores. After sitting out a year at Baylor, Hurd switched positions from running back to wide receiver. In one season as a wide receiver, Hurd appeared in 12 games totaling 48 carries for 209 yards and three touchdowns, while having 69 catches for 946 yards and four scores through the air.
Hurd is a player that teams will roll the dice on during day three and stash him on the practice squad or as a depth piece to their wide receiver room on the regular roster. Having been a former running back, Hurd still leaves a lot to be desired from a route running and wide receiver IQ perspective, but that’s understandable for a guy who was a only played the position for one year.
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Hurd has great length, which gives him a serious advantage in jump ball and red zone situations and provides a serious mismatch when he has a linebacker or safety on him. Being a former running back means Hurd has great open field abilities and is excellent at making defenders miss tackles due to his elusiveness and slippery running style. Expect Hurd to be a late day-three selection that is a wait and see player that needs a few years and NFL coaching to reach his potential.