MEET THE ROOKIE CLASS OF THE JAGUARS

MEET THE ROOKIE CLASS OF THE JAGUARS

Words by Emily Cannon

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Football season is about to be back, Duval, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are ready. This year’s drafts and contract deals seem to be putting the Jags in a good position for this season. With the addition of multiple rookie players to both the offensive and defensive line and extending Trevor Lawrence’s contract for another five years in Jacksonville.

With training camp kicking already in session by the time you read this, let’s take a look into this year’s picks! The Jaguars brought in nine players during the draft, WR Brian Thomas (LSU), DT Maason Smith (LSU), CB Jarrian Jones (FSU), DT Jordan Jefferson (LSU), CB Deantre Prince (Mississippi), RB Keilan Robinson (Texas), Kicker Cam Little (Arkansas) and Edge Myles Cole (Texas Tech).

With Calvin Ridley out, WR Brian Thomas, the 23rd pick of the first round, brings a hopeful feeling to the offensive line with a high catch percentage and competitive blocking. Thomas is also known for his speed and explosiveness. He is definitely one to watch out for as he is a threat to safeties vertically and continues to improve his route running daily.

DT Maason Smith was drafted in the second round as the 48th pick. Smith is known for his speed of the snap and his quickness while also showing lateral agility for speed across the line. This is promising for him to become an important member of the defense as an interior lineman. The potential he showed while at LSU proves a strong start for him with the Jags, but we will see how his first season will play out.

CB Jarrian Jones, the 96th pick in the third round from Florida State, is a reliable tackler and has not allowed a touchdown since 2022. He is struggling on the hold-up of outside speed, however, but has the quickness to excel. He is looking to grow in his first year with the Jags, and with the defensive lineup we have, he should be able to.

Another LSU Tiger turned Jaguar is DT Jordan Jefferson with the 116th pick looks to be a good shot for the defensive line. He proves to be very powerful off the snap and helps gain control of blocks which makes him hard to stop on one one-on-one plays. He is definitely one to watch out for during the preseason.

The Jags also added CB Deantre Prince, an experienced starter who has the desired speed and quickness, and his athleticism shows he can play in press coverage. Now in Jacksonville and working with defensive backs coach Kris Richard, his potential to become a strong player will continue to grow over the season.

RB Keilan Robinson comes to Jacksonville as the 167th overall pick. Robinson adds depth to the roster, where he’s been seen as a potential hidden gem. According to former coach Steve Sarkisian from the University of Texas, Robinson “has elite speed so when he gets the ball in his space, he’s always a threat to go the distance to score.”

Cam Little, the youngest-ever kicker drafted from Arkansas (he’s 20), hopes to help the Jags kicker situation this season. He leaves Arkansas as the most accurate kicker in program history with an 82.8% field goal percentage and never missed a extra point in his college career, which could really help the Jags. Since 2019 the Jaguars have had sixteen different kickers and are ranked 31st in the league in field goal rate.

The final pick for the Jaguars in the 2024 draft was Edge Myles Cole. He could be molded into a solid player for the Jags. His size plays into this with him being chosen in the seventh round. He could be considered a late-pick gem for the Jags.

Overall, it looks like it could be a great season for the Jags. With draft picks being known for their speed and size, this could help out both the offensive and defensive lines. With fast receivers and corners, physical linemen and a new kicker with a great average, this sets up the Jaguars for progress in the pre-season and training camp to plan out their best chances for a great season. Only time can tell how this will go with a predicted (10-7) season. It’s football time in Jacksonville!