Shenault finding early-season success heading into primetime debut
Former University of Colorado football star Laviska Shenault Jr. scored a touchdown in his professional debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is looking to add to a solid start in his National Football League career Thursday night against the Miami Dolphins.
In his first ever NFL game, a showdown with the Indianapolis Colts, Shenault did not disappoint, hauling in three receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. Only Keelan Cole Sr. had more receiving yards for the Jaguars. The rookie also carried the ball twice for 10 yards; one of which saw Shenault take a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation, something he is very used to and comfortable with from his time at Colorado. Most importantly, the former Buffalo turned Jaguar ended his NFL debut with a win.
“I was ready,” Shenault told reporters postgame. “I’m always ready and I’m telling you, I love to do that type of stuff, so anytime my name gets called to do something like that, I’m ready.”
In his second NFL game, despite a loss to the Tennessee Titans, Shenault averaged nine yards per touch, catching three out of four targets for 35 yards, as well as carrying the ball out of the backfield five times for 37 yards. Although he failed to score a touchdown in his second game as a Jaguar, it is becoming clear that Shenault is deserving and capable of playing a significant role in this Jacksonville Jaguars offense.
Shenault was certainly the most versatile player on the Buffaloes during his time at the University of Colorado. Officially listed as a receiver and playing most of his snaps as one, Shenault, however, is no stranger to being moved around in an offense. In college, he was often used as a running back, or even quarterback when taking snaps out of the Wildcat. In addition to Shenault’s 149 total college receptions, he racked up 42 rushing attempts, 23 of which came in his junior year, his last season at Colorado.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Shenault with the 42nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted Buff since 2011, when offensive lineman Nate Solder and defensive back Jimmy Smith both were selected in the first round. Some around the league believed the Jaguars got a steal in Shenault. Before a core injury ended his junior season at CU and forced him out of many offseason activities, Shenault was being mocked to be a first-round-pick and one of the first five receivers to be taken. In July, he inked a four-year-deal with Jacksonville worth nearly $7.7 million, with an additional $3.15 million in signing bonuses.
After limping to a 6-10 record during the 2019 season, the Jaguars hired a new offensive coordinator in Jay Gruden during the offseason. Although Gruden struggled to win consistently as the head coach with the Washington Football Team, sporting a 38-57-1 record during his time there, he’s shown over the course of the first two weeks that he can be a creative and productive play caller for Jacksonville. It’s been clear that he understands how versatile of an offensive player Shenault is, not hesitating to give him snaps at running back or quarterback in addition to his time at receiver.
“When you have a quarterback, or a running back or receiver – so he’s really all three – it puts a lot of stress on a defense,” said Gruden during a media session. “Even during the week, just having to make then prepare for that look and those types of plays are tough on a defense and they forget about the basic plays sometimes.”
Shenault and the Jags will square off against an 0-2 Dolphins team on Thursday Night Football. They will look to have success against a Miami secondary that struggled during their Week 2 performance against the Buffalo Bills, allowing quarterback Josh Allen to throw for over 400 yards and four touchdown passes. Things are looking no brighter for them this week as cornerback Byron Jones has been ruled out with a groin injury. Still, Shenault and the Jaguar receivers will have to face off against star corner Xavien Howard. Look for Gruden and the Jaguars to continue to move him around the field Thursday in order to create better matchups and create more open space for the former Buff, because he enjoys the challenge.
“I love having the pressure on me and [I] have to, I have no choice but to take advantage of my opportunities,” Shenault told Jaguars media members. “So, I like the pressure, I like everything that they’re doing with me and I’m just going to keep taking advantage of it.”
