Miami Hurricanes receiver K.J. Osborn drafted in fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings
K.J. Osborn was the graduate transfer who did everything right from the day he arrived at the University of Miami.
Tireless worker? Check. Mature role model and leader? Check. Leading receiver? Check. Leading all-purpose player? Check.
On Saturday, Osborn achieved what was previously unattainable when he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the 31st pick in the fifth round — 176th overall — in the NFL Draft.
Osborn came to UM last year after spending four seasons at Buffalo, where he redshirted his first year and caught 53 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior in 2018. He finished his career at Buffalo with 96 catches for 1,490 yards and 12 touchdowns and averaged 10.3 yards on 25 punt returns.
Top UM receiver
At Miami, Osborn started every game last season and led the Hurricanes in receptions (50), receiving yards (547), punt returns (16), punt-return yardage (225) and all-purpose yards (1,018). He likely would have had more receiving yardage and touchdowns had the Hurricanes’ quarterback position not disintegrated the last half of the season.
And at the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, the solidly built 5-11 1/2, 203-pound Osborn turned heads with a 4.48 40-yard dash and 18 bench-press reps, among several other notable stats. His 18 reps were sixth most among the 33 wideouts who chose to lift. Comparing 40 times, for example, wiry, explosive Jeff Thomas ran a 4.45, which was also run by Alabama star (and Deerfield Beach High alum) Jerry Jeudy.
“Across the board, Osborn had a stellar evening with a 4.48 in the 40, a 37.5-inch vertical, 123-inch broad [jump] and a 7.00 time in the three-cone drill,’’ said CBSSports.com draft analyst Chris Trapasso. “He can now be considered one of the best all-around athletes at the receiver position in this class.’’
Osborn chose Miami over Florida State, after eliminating his third choice of North Carolina. UM coach Manny Diaz loved him immediately, and surprised everyone — even Osborn — when he chose the graduate transfer as one of two players to represent the Hurricanes at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days.
‘Big-time guy’
”K.J. texted me at 8:45 p.m. one night, ‘Coach, can we get the lights on at the indoor facility? I want to catch balls out of the Jugs [machine],’’’ Diaz said before the season. “That’s what we needed, a guy that could show our young players who do have ability how to become a big-time guy.’’
Osborn, 22, grew up in the bitter cold of Ypsilanti, Michigan, only 15 minutes from the University of Michigan Wolverines, who never recruited him. So he won’t be fazed by any type of weather conditions.
K.J.’s mother, Valerie, is a dental hygienist. His dad, Kendrick (K.J. is short for Kendrick Jr.) drives a tractor-trailer filled with automotive parts to supply Ford, Tesla and Chrysler.
“I take a lot of pride in YAC [yards after catch],’’ Osborn, whose strength can drag defenders with him, said before the season. Being a weapon, I can play inside and outside. You can depend on me on third down — really good hands, being physical at the line of scrimmage and being a really good blocker. I want to check all the boxes.’’
Added Osborn: “The ultimate goal is just to win.’’
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 3:45 PM.
