Gene Frenette: Free-agent RB from Auburn turning heads with his speed

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First, let me preface this column on the Jaguars’ most intriguing undrafted free agent by saying it’s possible he could fall victim to a shooting-star disease I like to call Chad Owens Syndrome.

Owens was a Jaguars sixth-round draft pick in 2005 that wowed people in training camp with his quickness and return ability, only to fall out of favor by dropping punts when the regular-season spotlight came on. He was classic NFL fool’s gold, spending most of his time on the practice squad

Nobody can be certain of what will become of Corey Grant, the rookie blur-r-r-r-r-r from Auburn who has caught the attention of Jaguars teammates because his speed is off the charts. He also packs 205 pounds on a 5-foot-9 frame (even general manager Dave Caldwell questions his listed height of 5-11), so Grant has a physicality factor that bodes well for him earning a special-teams role, most notably as a kick returner.

Remember, the pads don’t go on for another two months, so the optimism around the Jaguars about Grant must be accompanied by a caution signal. But there’s an unmistakable buzz in the locker room because Grant’s ability to get to top speed so quickly has players talking.

“You can tell how quick his first three or four steps are,” said receiver Tandon Doss. “We talk about it all the time when you see a fast-twitch guy. Speed guys aren’t always as coordinated, but [Grant] does a good job.”

“He’s not just shifty, he’s explosive,” added running back Bernard Pierce. “It’s definitely natural.”

And then there’s this eye-opening gem from Auburn teammate Nick Marshall, who is competing with Grant, Denard Robinson and Storm Johnson for the Jaguars’ kick return job: “His speed, everyone knows you can’t miss it because he’s the fastest I’ve ever seen on two feet.”

How fast is Grant? Well, from a stopwatch standpoint, the Jaguars clocked him in the 40-yard dash at 4.27 seconds on his Pro Day, though others had him at 4.24 and 4.26 . Even the slowest time is in the neighborhood with Chris Johnson’s 2008 electronically-timed NFL Combine record of 4.24.

But since Grant was a situational running back at Auburn, the third option during its 2013 run to a national championship appearance, and didn’t attend the combine, he went undrafted and was available to all 32 teams. Grant chose the Jaguars, who are hopeful the speed he flashes during OTAs will look just as impressive once he puts on the pads.

“The initial returns are really good. You don’t want to put anybody into the Pro Bowl this time of year, but it’s better than [Grant] not looking good,” Caldwell said. “There are players who are stopwatch fast, and it doesn’t transition [into games]. That’s where scouting comes in. Corey is a guy that clocks fast and, right now, is playing fast.”

Grant has long held a reputation as a burner. At Opelika High, he was a two-time 100-meter state champion in Class 6A and also won the 200 meters.

He initially signed with Alabama, then transferred to Auburn in 2011 and needed two years before making an impact in Gus Malzahn’s offense. Grant had 126 carries for 1,011 yards (8.0 average) the past two seasons, as well as a 90-yard kickoff return for a TD against Tennessee in 2013.

Caldwell signed him after some prodding by Jaguars analytics guru Tony Khan, who convinced the GM that Grant would find a role somewhere on special teams because Auburn played him on all four of their units, including the role of gunner.

“My real focal point is the kick return job,” said Grant. “That’s something I want to win as the starter, but I’m going to put the same time in at running back. I’ll do just about anything the coaches want.”

While everybody notices his speed, Grant, who wants to be a strength coach when he’s done with football, is just as preoccupied with his durability. He enjoys contact in a Maurice Jones-Drew kind of way, as evidenced by the way Grant bulldozed LSU cornerback Jalen Mills at the end of an 18-yard run last season.

It’s too early to know how Grant’s speed and body will translate in the NFL, but the Jaguars have noticed No. 33 despite limited touches in OTAs.

“Once he catches the ball, he reaches top speed real quick,” said receiver Allen Hurns, last year’s undrafted free agent star.

Quarterback Blake Bortles admires the way Grant hustles after he throws a pass, saying: “Regardless of where he’s at, he stands out on film of guys hauling ***** to follow the ball and create cutback blocks.”

At Tuesday’s OTA, running back Toby Gerhart smiled after watching Grant operate at full tilt.

“I saw him hit the corner the other day, then cut it down and I said, ‘Man, that’s your chance to go, to fly,’ “ said Gerhart. “I kept waiting for him to open it up. Then he flashed that and I remember grabbing Bernard [Pierce] or Denard [Robinson] and saying, ‘Hey, man, you see him move on that play.’ He makes you shake your head.”

One last reminder: This is June. We don’t know if Corey Grant is another Chad Owens or a hidden gem like Hurns.

But it should be compelling to find out.

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