D. J. Chark
Darrell Demont "D. J." Chark Jr. (born September 23, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU.
![]() Chark at the 2020 Pro Bowl | |||||||||||||
No. 17 – Jacksonville Jaguars | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Alexandria, Louisiana | September 23, 1996||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Alexandria (Alexandria, Louisiana) | ||||||||||||
College: | LSU | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 61 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2020 | |||||||||||||
|
Early years
Chark was born to Shirley and Darrell Chark on September 23, 1996. He played for a youth league as a running back in his hometown. He attended Alexandria Senior High School in Alexandria, Louisiana, where played high school football and ran track.[1][2]
College career
Chark had offers from schools such as Memphis, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, among others. He chose to commit to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college football.[3] Chark played at LSU from 2014 to 2017 under head coaches Les Miles and Ed Orgeron.[4] After not recording a reception his first two years, he had 26 for 466 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2016.[5][6] As a senior in 2017, he had 40 receptions for 874 yards and three touchdowns.[7] Known for his straight-ahead speed, Chark earned the nickname "The Flash" during his time at LSU. He wore number 7 at LSU.[8]
Receiving statistics
Year | Team | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | YPG | Lg | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | LSU (FBS) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | LSU (FBS) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | LSU (FBS) | 12 | 26 | 466 | 17.92 | 38.8 | 80t | 3 |
2017 | LSU (FBS) | 12 | 40 | 874 | 21.85 | 72.8 | 68t | 3 |
Career Totals | 35 | 66 | 1,340 | 20.30 | 38.3 | 80t | 6 |
Punt return statistics
Year | Team | G | Num | Yds | Avg | FC | Lg | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | LSU (FBS) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | LSU (FBS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | LSU (FBS) | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | LSU (FBS) | 12 | 18 | 190 | 10.56 | 21 | 75t | 2 |
Career Totals | 35 | 18 | 190 | 10.56 | 21 | 75t | 2 |
Rushing statistics
Year | Team | G | Att | Gain | Loss | Yds | Avg | YPG | Lg | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | LSU (FBS) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | LSU (FBS) | 5 | 2 | 86 | 0 | 86 | 43.00 | 17.2 | 79t | 1 |
2016 | LSU (FBS) | 12 | 12 | 144 | 22 | 122 | 10.17 | 10.2 | 35 | 2 |
2017 | LSU (FBS) | 12 | 12 | 68 | 5 | 63 | 5.25 | 5.2 | 20t | 1 |
Career Totals | 35 | 26 | 298 | 27 | 271 | 10.42 | 7.7 | 79t | 4 |
Professional career
On December 18, 2017, it was announced that Chark had accepted his invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl.[10] On January 27, 2018, Chark played in the 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl and made two tackles and caught five passes for 160 receiving yards and a touchdown as part of Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien's South team that defeated the North 45–16. He led both teams in receiving yards and earned the Senior Bowl's co-MVP award.[11] Chark's Senior Bowl performance immediately garnered him recognition as a top wide receiver prospect in the upcoming draft and he was widely praised among analysts, including Charles Davis and James Jones.[12]
External video | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
He attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and completed all of the combine and positional drills. His draft stock continued to rise after he tied for fourth among all players in the 40-yard dash, tied for ninth in the vertical jump, and tied for 13th in the broad jump.[13] Chark also attended a private workout for the Dallas Cowboys and pre-draft visits with the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos.[14][15] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Chark was projected to be a second round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the fifth best wide receiver prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com, was ranked the sixth best wide receiver by Scouts Inc., and was ranked tenth best wide receiver by Sports Illustrated.[16][17][18]
External video | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 2 7⁄8 in (1.90 m) |
199 lb (90 kg) |
32 3⁄8 in (0.82 m) |
9 1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.34 s | 1.51 s | 2.54 s | 40 in (1.02 m) | 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) | 16 reps | |||
All values from NFL Combine /LSU's Pro Day[19][20][21] |
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Chark in the second round with the 61st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Chark was the eighth wide receiver drafted in 2018.[22]
External video | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() |
2018 season
On May 25, 2018, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Chark to a four-year, $4.44 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $1.31 million.[23] In the Jaguars' Week 2 victory over the New England Patriots, Chark recorded his first professional reception, which went for 13 yards. However, he did lose the ball on a fumble on the same play.[24]
Chark finished his rookie year with 14 receptions for 174 receiving yards.[25]
2019 season
During Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Chark caught four passes for 146 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars lost 40–26.[26] In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, Chark caught seven passes for 55 yards and one touchdown as the Jaguars lost 13–12.[27] In Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans, Chark caught four passes for 76 yards and his third receiving touchdown of the season in the 20–7 win.[28] In Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, Chark caught eight passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the 34–27 loss.[29] In Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts, Chark caught eight passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the 33–13 loss.[30] Overall, Chark finished the 2019 season with 73 receptions for 1,008 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns.[31]
2020 season
In Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Chark caught eight passes for 95 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns during the 33–25 loss.[32] In Week 9 against the Houston Texans, Chark had seven receptions for 146 receiving yards, including a 73 yard receiving touchdown, in the 27–25 loss.[33]
References
- Khan Jr., Sam (June 10, 2013). "LSU lands commit No. 10 in WR Chark". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- Dellenger, Ross (August 25, 2017). "DJ Chark's story: Top LSU receiver 'saved' dad, cared for ailing sister, came 'very close' to leaving team". The Advocate. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- Smith, James (June 10, 2013). "LSU's proximity to home was key to landing 2014 receiver D.J. Chark". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- "D.J. Chark College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- Guilbeau, Glenn (July 14, 2017). "The last year for LSU WR D.J. Chark of Alexandria has been one". The Advertiser. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- Dellenger, Ross (January 23, 2018). "Flashy Smooth: Former LSU WR DJ Chark shows 'Day 2' talent on first day of Senior Bowl practice". The Advocate. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- Dabe, Christopher (January 25, 2018). "D.J. Chark's 'straight-line speed' draws former LSU receiver to Senior Bowl". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- "Jaguars draft big, speedy LSU receiver DJ Chark in 2nd round". OrlandoSentinel.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
- "D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
- Dellinger, Ross (December 18, 2017). "LSU WR DJ Chark accepts invite to Senior Bowl, 2 other Tigers heading to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl". theadvocate.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Suss, Nick. "LSU WR DJ Chark dominates in Senior Bowl, named game's co-MVP". SEC Country. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Cooper, Jon. "Former LSU WR DJ Chark impresses NFL analyst during Senior Bowl". saturdaydownsouth.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "2018 NFL Scouting Combine: Top Performers". NFL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Payne, Scotty (April 12, 2018). "Report: Broncos are having a pre-draft visit/workout with LSU wide receiver, D.J. Chark". Mile High Report. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Ratty, Ryan (April 12, 2018). "Report: Cowboys hold private workout with LSU WR D.J. Chark". bloggingtheboys.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "D.J. Chark, DS #5 WR, LSU". Draft Scout. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "NFL Draft D.J. Chark -ESPN". espn.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "The 2018 NFL Draft Big Board, Vol. 2". si.com. March 7, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
- "NFL Draft Profile: D.J. Chark". National Football League. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap3000000929615/Instant-Draft-Grade-DJ-Chark-A
- http://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/101544
- Crow, Alfie (April 27, 2018). "2018 NFL Draft results: Jaguars pick DJ Chark". BigCatCountry.com. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
- "Spotrac.com: D.J. Chark contract". spotrac.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- "Jaguars' D.J. Chark: Loses fumble on first career catch". CBSSports.com. September 17, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
- "DJ Chark 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- "Chiefs lose Hill, handle Jags 40–26 behind Mahomes, Watkins". www.espn.com. Associated Press. September 8, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- "Texans stop Jags' 2-point conversion to get 13–12 win". www.espn.com. Associated Press. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- "Minshew, defense shine as Jaguars thump Titans 20–7". www.espn.com. Associated Press. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- "McCaffrey scores 3 TDs, Panthers hold off Jaguars 34–27". www.espn.com. Associated Press. October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
- "Colts overpower Jaguars with strong ground game in 33–13 win". www.espn.com. Associated Press. November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- "DJ Chark 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- "Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals – October 4th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- "Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars - November 8th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.