Local product and former Toreros Jamal Agnew made a big impression on Monday Night Football with an 88-yard punt return in the fourth quarter for a touchdown in the Detroit Lions win over the New York Giants.
Detroit was leading 17-10 after the half and Agnew’s touchdown was the knockout blow that extended the Lions lead to two touchdowns. It was his first career NFL touchdown.
“It’s surreal. I still can’t believe it,” the Point Loma High and the University of San Diego alum said. “People are blowing up my phone right now. I still can’t believe what’s happened.”
As for the ball he made the touchdown with? Agnew kept it. He’s not too sure what he’s going to do with it quite yet, but he has some ideas.
“I’ll probably put it in a case, inscript it and stuff,” he said.
HE. COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY.
Rookie @jamalagnew goes 88 yards on the punt return TD! #OnePride #DETvsNYG pic.twitter.com/Qj9waGRlBD
— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2017
Lions coach Jim Caldwell was quite impressed with the quickness and speed and the potential of his rookie cornerback.
“Anytime you take a (punt) return that far in the National Football League without getting caught from behind — you got a little of a motor going for you,” Caldwell said. “He’s done a really good job for us but you could see it coming in terms of his quickness, ability to just catch it and run. He’ll do nothing but get better. He’s a young guy.”
Agnew was selected by the Lions in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft after helping the Toreros to a 10-2 overall record and perfect 8-0 Pioneer Football League championship title. He was a two-time team Defensive MVP and a first-team All-PFL performer in 2016.
