Monday #ProCanes Report: Hurns Shines for JAX
The Monday Morning #ProCanes report will weed through all the NFL highlights and news to bring you the information you care about the most… what the former University of Miami Hurricanes did during the week prior. 32 NFL teams were each given several opportunities this past spring to draft Hurricanes wide receiver Allen Hurns – the record holder for single-season receiving yards at #WideReceiverU. Hurns, who wasn’t among the 33 wide receivers selected in May’s NFL Draft, instead signed on as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If the rookie’s debut against Philadelphia on Sunday is any indication, teams might be regretting that decision for years to come.
Miami #ProCanes piled up 604 receiving yards, 845 all-purpose yards and four touchdown catches in Week 1, with no player putting on a better show than the rookie Hurns. The first career receiving touchdown for running back Lamar Miller (Miami Dolphins) and a score from tight end Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers) highlighted a strong opening week for #ProCanes across the NFL.
Allen Hurns (Jacksonville Jaguars) – four catches, 110 yards, two touchdowns
Less than 15 minutes into his professional career, rookie wideout Allen Hurns was already proving doubters wrong. Hurns became the first player to ever record two receiving touchdowns in the first quarter of his NFL debut, snagging passes of 34 yards and 21 yards to give Jacksonville a 14-0 lead on the road in Philadelphia. Hurns set Miami’s single-season record with 1,162 receiving yards as a senior in 2013 and led all NFL pass catchers with 232 yards in four preseason games with the Jaguars. The Carol City HS alum, who started alongside fellow #ProCanes rookie offensive lineman Brandon Linder, also hauled in a 46-yard pass in the 34-17 defeat.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: First Career Catch, TD | Doubling Up: 21-Yard TD
Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) – six catches, 93 yards
With another standout performance for the Texans in a 17-6 win over Washington, Andre Johnson moved past Redskins legend Art Monk into 16th place in NFL history in receiving yards. Johnson, who hauled in six passes for 93 yards, has 12,754 yards in his 12 professional seasons. He is coming off a 1,407-yard season in 2013 where he hauled in over 100 catches for the fifth time in his career. Even more impressive, the top two active NFL leaders in receiving yards are both #ProCanes: Colts’ legend Reggie Wayne (11th place, 13,364) and Johnson, a Miami Senior HS alum who needs just 32 yards to pass crack the top 15 all-time leaders in the category.
Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) – 16 carries, 66 yards
Though by no means an eye-popping performance, Frank Gore eclipsed a career milestone Sunday afternoon that few of his peers have achieved. The Coral Gables Senior HS alum became just the 29th running back in NFL history to reach the 10,000-yard mark, and just the 10th to eclipse the milestone with one franchise. With a four-yard run in the third quarter, Gore became one of just three active running backs in the 10,000-yard club. He is also just the second #ProCane to do it; Edgerrin James ranks 10th all-time with 12,279 yards. When asked about his accomplishment after the game, Gore responded, “I wasn’t thinking about it. I was thinking about winning.”
Other Notable Performances:
- Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers) – eight catches, 83 yards, one touchdown
- Jimmy Graham (New Orleans) – eight catches, 82 yards
- Devin Hester (Atlanta Falcons) – five catches, 99 yards
- Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) – nine catches, 98 yards
- Matt Bosher (Atlanta Falcons) – three punts, average of 52.3 yards
Three more #ProCanes will be competing in Monday Night Football on Sept. 8; safety Antrel Rolle and linebacker Jon Beason will take the field for the New York Giants against Detroit (7:10 p.m. ET), while defensive end Calais Campbell will suit up for the Arizona Cardinals against San Diego (10:20 p.m).
