In a corrupt media that continues to share the negativity of sports such as the death of Pro Wrestler's, the NFL's Deflate Gate and the usage of PEDs from players such as Toronto Blue Jay's Chris Colabello and Miami Marlin's Dee Gordon, it is compelling to share you a positive story for a change. That story is Allen Hurns of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
24-year-old Allen Hurns entered the 2014 NFL Draft after a successful senior year at Miami, where he'd set an all-time single-season receiving record for the school. Hurns, however, would go undrafted. Signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars following the draft, Hurns made the league minimum but realized his dream of playing in the NFL. Hurns, managing to keep his head up the entire time, worked hard on the field and trained non-stop to make it, and on June 3rd, Hurns inked his first ever contract extension, going from making the league minimum to signing a 40 million dollar contract (20 guaranteed) over a four-year span. Finishing 2015 with 64 receptions, 10 touchdowns and 1,031 receiving yards, Hurns wasn't originally supposed to play, but due to injuries, head coach Gus Bradley gave him playing time. Whether it was faith, talent, determination, or what have you, Hurns put up fantastic numbers all across the board for a breakout season. Paired with fellow wide receiver Allan Robinson, the two would carry the Jaguars to their best record since 2010 and show a bright future for the city of Jacksonville.
Though the contract is a bit surprising, it's interesting to see where Jacksonville goes from here. The Jags, who are rebuilding near-perfectly, with one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, Blake Bortles, and possibly the best wide receiver depth in all of the NFL. Locking down the dynamic duo of Hurns and Robinson, as well as Rashad Greene, Marqise Lee and Denard Robinson splitting time at both RB and WR, the Jags are set offensively for the long-term.
The Best Part of the Story....
As big of a threat the Jaguars may be in the future, what's the best part about the Allen Hurns story? Unlike a plethora of famous athletes such as Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox), Rhonda Rousey (UFC) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Allen Hurns has stated on multiple occasions that he will not let the huge contract get to his head as he vows to stay humble, train harder and earn every dime of the contract given to him by the Jaguars. He will not forget what brought him to the dance—hard work, dedication, and football. Allen Hurns, who came from a broken home in the outskirts of Miami where he lived a rough life, used the contract to honor his single-mother, who now has it framed in her house. Hurns has stated more than once that she's the reason that he was able to go from struggling on the streets of Miami to playing in the spotlight at EverBank Field, one of the largest stadiums in the NFL. While Hurns is on his way to being one of the NFL's premier wide receivers, Hurns has vowed to stay humble and not forget anything that his mom has done for him.
Hurns currently runs an event called 88Blessings, an event where he honors both his mother and single mothers everywhere. A black-tie event that's open to the public, will have current and past Jaguars (including Hurns, of course) and honor 88 single mothers around the world. The event will take place on the United States' Independence Day in 2016. Hurns mission with 88Blessings is to give single mothers, like his own, a night for them. Hurns believes that they play both pivotal roles of mother and father. Not only is Hurns staying humble throughout all of this, he's giving back to his mother.
This is truly a remarkable story. Though being snubbed from the 2014 draft, Hurns didn't give up and was signed as an undrafted free agent to make the team, going from a struggling household to the Jacksonville Jaguars, successful and still humble. While the whole story is inspiring, this is just the beginning for Allen Hurns.