OXNARD, Calif. - Sam Hurd's alma mater might be Northern Illinois, but the word "husky" probably won't ever describe the third-year Cowboys receiver. His slender frame just doesn't support, say, Terrell Owens' bulk.
But Hurd has made a considerable effort to gain weight since the Cowboys signed him as rookie free agent back in 2006. This time two years ago, Hurd stepped off the plane in Oxnard weighing 193 pounds. Now he checks in around 205, having added a noticeable 10-14 pounds of muscle to his upper body.
"When you've got more weight you can throw it around," Hurd said. "I feel better going in to block safeties now."
Hurd encountered the same problem as most young players: Maintaining an appetite and consequently keeping weight on, after sweat-soaked two-a-day practices. His results come from a carbohydrate-and-protein-packed diet and another productive off-season training program with Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek.
"My second year I'd gain a little weight, but I'd always lose it during training camp," Hurd said. "This year they got me on a diet and it's helping me. It's Terrell's diet but modified to my weight and to how I eat."
A bigger, stronger Hurd will be useful for an offense that's no longer counting on Terry Glenn. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Monday that Hurd and Miles Austin are "probably even right now" on the depth chart behind Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, though he wants to get a better look at both young receivers in preseason.
Hurd has looked impressive in camp, running precise routes and competing for the ball in team drills. His extra bulk will be helpful in getting off jams at the line of scrimmage.
"He needs it because he's on special teams, plus he's going to be going against defensive backs that are going to be physical with him," wide receivers coach Ray Sherman said. "He's got to have the strength to get off of them, plus it'll also give him the opportunity to break tackles."
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