Hoosiers At the Next Level: Shane Wynn, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Shane Wynn looks to make it back on the active roster in 2018 Image: Getty Images

Written by Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

Shane Wynn | Jacksonville Jaguars | WR  

Listed at 5-foot-6 168lbs per NFL.com, Shane Wynn is beating all odds by sticking around in the NFL. Wynn amassed over 2,000 yards receiving and 20 touchdowns during his career at Indiana. He’s succeeded at every level despite his size, and Wynn has no plans of giving up his dream to sustain himself as a professional football player. Wynn’s speed and elusiveness are obviously his biggest assets. He posted a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at Indiana’s pro day. As the saying goes, “you can’t teach speed.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars mark the sixth NFL team Wynn has been with since he finished his IU career in 2015. Wynn was cut by five different teams in a one-year span, but he kept working. His remarkable attitude and competitive spirit allowed him to thrive in training camp and the preseason for Jacksonville. “Every time somebody tells me I can’t do something, I just use that as fuel for my fire,” Wynn said in August. “It just makes me go harder than what I could do. As long as I’m working out there, I feel like I can do anything.” Wynn will not give up. Speed cannot be taught, and neither can heart. “I don’t care at all about what people say. What’s height and weight got to do with it? My size or my height doesn’t matter. You cannot teach heart. If you go out there, know what you’re doing, study your opponent, and you make plays, I feel like I can do anything.”

Wynn played well this past summer in training camp, earning praise from Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone and his teammates. Marrone said Wynn is “tough as hell” and suggested that the 24-year old was making all the right plays during camp. During a preseason game against Carolina on August 24th, Wynn scored his first touchdown with the Jaguars. He made a nice move at the line of scrimmage to break free, and hauled in a diving catch in the back of the end zone. “I just do what I can do, keep competing,” said Wynn. “I don’t worry about whether I’m going to get picked to stay [with the Jaguars]. I just keep the grind going, keep nailing at it until you can’t no more.” Unfortunately, he was placed on injured reserve in September, just a few weeks after his touchdown reception. Hindered by a hamstring, Wynn spent this regular season out of action.

However, Wynn remained with the Jaguars, who are headed to New England this weekend to play in the AFC Championship game. He plans to work his way back from injured reserve and earn himself a spot on the active roster next summer. Wynn has defied the odds at every level of his football career thus far. Will he do it again in the NFL? Shane Wynn knows he can, and I certainly wouldn’t bet against him. 

Quotes credited to Gene Frenette of The Florida Times-Union at www.jacksonville.com

Fans of Hoosier Huddle can help support the site by shopping on Amazon using the ad below at no cost to the shopper. Thank you for your support.