Prospect for Jags fans to know: Arkansas WR Treylon Burks

With DJ Chark’s future with the Jags in question, fans may want to start monitoring the WR prospects for the 2022 draft. That’s why this week’s prospect preview by @DanDGriffis is on Arkansas’ Treylon Burks.

With the announcement of DJ Chark’s season-ending injury and the potential for him to be a free agent next offseason, the Jaguars should be on the lookout for potential replacements if a deal is unable to be made.

Even with Chark, this team’s receiving corps is in a tough spot. While Jamal Agnew has impressed no doubt, the group is just not getting open enough consistently for Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the offense. The once-promising group has largely struggled in recent weeks.

A few weeks ago we looked at Ohio State’s receiver Chris Olave, the draft’s premier name at the position. However, there is another prospect who has played himself into that WR1 discussion in Arkansas’ Treylon Burks.

Burks (6-foot-3, 225 lbs) has burst onto the scene in 2021 for an exciting Arkansas Razorbacks team. Burks has already amassed 717 yards, averaging 17.2 yards per catch on 42 catches. His seven touchdowns in just eight games this season are also incredibly noteworthy as Burks’ ball skills and size have been on full display in the Southeastern Conference.

As mentioned above, it’s Burks’ ability to highpoint balls and win contested- catch situations that have been his calling card thus far into his career. In his last two seasons in Fayetteville, he has hauled in 14 touchdowns in just 17 games, boxing out SEC defenders consistently.

While Burks may not be the most impressive athlete at the position, he certainly has the speed to hurt defenses and can create on his own with the ball in his hands. For a player with his size, he is pretty agile. The play below shows Burks knack for the big play ball and how much his presence on the field helps out his team.

As Jaguar fans may remember, Allen Robinson, was a crafty receiver for a player of his size. With a lack of that elite speed and quickness, Robinson used his route running ability to create consistent separation, and I believe Burks could develop into a similar player. Check out this play below as Burks shows off his ability to deal with press-man coverage.

If Burks can work on further polishing his route-running and hand usage, he could turn into a complete player. The size and big-play ability are there; if Burks can become a more nuanced player, watch out.

This is the sort of player the Jaguars need. A bigger, playmaking receiver who can take over a game himself. Burks almost single-handily beat the seventh ranked Texas A&M Aggies, going for six catches, 167 yards, and a score. He’s only getting better. The Jaguars should no doubt take a look at Arkansas’ best-kept secret that keeps becoming less and less of a secret by the week.