‘Horns Humphrey to forgo senior season & enter NFL Draft
AUSTIN — Lil’Jordan Humphrey is making the big leap to the NFL, he announced on Tuesday.
The stellar wide receiver with a full toolbox of skills — from catching leaping passes to tossing touchdowns and running away from defenders — decided to forgo his senior season as a Texas Longhorn and will enter the 2019 NFL draft instead.
For those who’ve seen his work ethic and standout skills this season know he’ll be a likely star at the next level.
“It has not been an easy decision, but after a lot of thoughts and prayers, I have decided to forgo my senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft,” Humphrey said on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram. “I’m forever grateful to be a part of a family that was so close together. I loved my time at UT.”
Helping the ‘Horns to a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia, Humphrey grabbed 86 catches this season for 1,176 yards — fifth-most in UT history — to go with nine touchdowns, which are the third-most in the history of Texas football.
More: Nothing little about Humphrey’s development as go-to weapon
The junior wide receiver set out to dominate this season and he did just that by following the mentality instilled in him by this, and the previous coaching staff, as he thanked former coach Charlie Strong along with current coaches including Tom Herman, Yancy McKnight, Drew Mehringer and Corby Meekins “for the time they have spent developing me into the young adult I am now and helping me prepare for my future.”
“Coach Meekins talks about having a dog mentality, and that dog mentality is just dominating and don’t matter what you do — if it’s blocking, catching, cleaning” a laughing Humphrey told us this fall. “(The key to blocking well is) strong hands and moving your feet, quick feet, that’s what i feel like is the key, and the mentality — the mindset.”
That mentality will serve him well among the pros of the NFL. Humphrey was a running back in high school and transitioned to a bit of a Swiss-army knife for the Longhorns.
More: Rough & tumble receivers relishing roles
“We're just doing everything right. The small things, the little things, it's doing those right. Being on time for meetings, it's just doing everything right that sets us apart,” Humphrey said at the end of the season.
Humphrey and Collin Johnson, who is staying at Texas for his senior season, combined to be what Humphrey called “one of the best receiving cores in the nation.”
“Goodluck brother,” Johnson said on Instagram.
Malik Johnson joked on the platform, “Be waiting to hit you. Congrats brother!”
For his career, Humphrey had 125 receptions, which is 10th most in UT’s storied history, and his 1,622 total receiving yards were just shy of the Top 10 as well.
“I’m going to represent UT on and off the field as I move forward in my career to take care of my family and all the communities that I can,” Humphrey continued. “Hook’Em Horns for life!”
Those who’ve gone to the NFL from UT were weighing in throughout the day, including current ESPN analyst Emmanuel Acho and current Seattle Seahawks punter (and sometimes kicker) Michael Dickson.
Congrats bro, go be great!!
— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) January 8, 2019
Congrats bro! So happy for you! Compete at the highest level
— Michael Dickson (@mdcksn) January 8, 2019
