The Washington Commanders just added a player with a rare set of athletic traits to the impending competition at punt returner.
The Commanders used the 128th overall pick — their first of three picks today — to take Virginia Tech wideout Jaylin Lane and add him to a receiver room that already has players like Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. Lane was a solid option for MTSU and the Hokies over five seasons, recording 2,532 yards and 18 touchdowns on 203 receptions.
But Lane’s biggest contributions, at least at the start of his NFL career, might be on special teams, and he’s excited about that opportunity.
“Just being back there, I feel like I can make any play, any catch and ultimately, take it to the crib,” Lane said. “That’s what you want to do as a returner.”
Lane delivered some impressive highlights as a punt returner at the college level, both at MTSU and Virginia Tech. He averaged nearly 11 yards per return during his college career and scored two touchdowns. He ripped off a 58-yarder against Marshall last season and sprinted past the entire coverage unit to do so.