Local football star Jamal Agnew, playing for the Detroit Lions, was named to the NFL’s All- Pro first team last week, capping an incredible rookie season.
Agnew has heard scouts and others call him “too small” since his high school career at Point Loma High School where he was a first-team All CIF defensive player. Yet he has proven them wrong at every level, now including professional football.
Following his breakout career as a Pointer, few Div. I colleges showed interest in him so Agnew elected to play locally at University of San Diego. There, he set records for number of passes defended and was an all-Pioneer Football League selection.
The Lions used a fifth-round selection in the 2017 draft on Agnew, and since he first arrived at the team headquarters, he has impressed coaches, teammates and fans with his abilities and quick smile.
Agnew’s breakout moment came Sept. 18 during a “Monday Night Football” game against the host New York Giants when he fielded a punt and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown.
Later, Agnew returned another punt for a score against a different opponent and the Lions began using his talents in other ways.
During the season, Agnew logged 10 tackles on defense, caught two passes for 18 yards and gained nine yards on two carries on offense, returned 11 kickoffs 196 yards, returned 11 punts for 447 yards and the two touchdowns and recovered three fumbles, establishing himself as an all-around threat in a sport of specialists.
