D.J. Chark is quickly developing into a receiver who is simply unfair. The 6-foot-4 pass-catcher already had excellent size and a large frame for a No. 1 receiver, and now, according to a report from the NFL Network’s James Palmer, he’s gained 10 pounds, putting his weight at 210.
However, don’t expect the extra muscle to slow him down. Palmer said on Twitter that in spite of the weight increase, Chark has actually gotten faster this offseason.
Urban Meyer has stressed the importance of sports performance at length since he arrived. It’s a big part of their draft process and is already in motion with the current players. D.J. Chark just told me he’s gained 10 pounds (up to 210) and his times have actually gotten faster
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) April 29, 2021
As Palmer mentions, performance has been a major emphasis for Meyer and his staff since he arrived in Jacksonville.
“We’re having a serious conversation about a facility here, a brand-new facility,” Meyer said in March. “I’ve put together a sports performance team that I expect to be the best in the NFL.”
With struggles at the quarterback position in 2020, Chark saw his production drop off a bit. After cracking 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2019, he only had 706 yards and five touchdowns (a decrease from the eight he scored the previous season).
Still, he’s one of the top young receivers in the league in spite of average (at best) quarterback play during his time in Jacksonville. A big receiver with excellent ball skills, a bigger, faster Chark is a scary thought for the AFC South and the NFL at large.
