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Jaguars Select WR Laviska Shenault Jr. with No. 42 pick in NFL Draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected WR Laviska Shenault Jr. with the No. 42 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Another Lone Star State recruit, Shenault played basketball and football at DeSoto High School in Texas. Grabbing scouts’ attention, the future Colorado Buffalo had 46 receptions, 825 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a senior for the Eagles.
Quiet during his freshman year in Colorado, Shenault (6-foot-1, 227 pounds) had a breakout sophomore season, as he caught 86 passes for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns. He also added 115 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. Inconsistent quarterback play limited the Buffaloes’ offense in 2019, but Shenault still earned Second-Team All-Pac 12 honors. As a senior he had 56 receptions for 764 yards and four TD, plus 161 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
Shenault has elite ability as a runner in the open field. He combines great burst and vision while initiating contact with a would-be tackler. Displaying a solid skill set, Shenault has sudden acceleration at the snap and aggressive physicality at the top of his route. He also makes catches all over the field and isn’t shy about calling for the ball.
He threatens a secondary at all three levels, with the speed to get deep and the running ability to turn short passes into long gains. Shenault has excellent body control, allowing him to adjust to the throw downfield or along the sideline. He has good hands to pluck the ball out of the air and secure it quickly.
Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Shenault as the No. 39 overall player on his big board:
Shenault remains an unrefined route runner, but he turns into a running back with the ball in his hands. With his ability to break tackles, he flourishes in the open field due to his strength, size, burst, vision and elusiveness.
2019 stats (Junior; Colorado): 764 receiving yards, 4 TD, 161 rushing yards, 2 TD (11 games)
2018 stats (Sophomore; Colorado): 1,011 receiving yards, 6 TD, 115 rushing yards, 5 TD (9 games)
2017 stats (Freshman; Colorado): 168 receiving yards (7 games)
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