JACKSONVILLE – Blair Brown pretty much knew what to expect.
Brown, a linebacker from Ohio University, had been told by his agent he likely would be selected on Saturday in the fourth or fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Jaguars selected him in the fourth selection of Round 5, the No. 148 selection overall.
"So, that was perfect timing," he said.
Brown (5-feet-11, 238 pounds), an All-MAC selection as a senior this past season, led the team with 128 tackles including 15 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Jaguars director of college scouting Mark Ellenz said called Brown a "run-and-hit" guy with legitimate NFL speed.
"You can even see it on film," Ellenz said. "He's got a lot of range to get outside. He comes downhill. He comes downhill with purpose. He's got a lot of good edge to him as we like to call it – very physical player, really loves football.
"He's into it – kind of meets all the criteria that we're looking for in a linebacker."
Ellenz said Brown can play either outside linebacker position in the NFL.
"Right now we see him more as a WILL, but we think he has flex to do it just with his experience doing it and a smart player," Ellenz said. "He's instinctive, he's fast, he's physical, and he can get off blocks."
Brown, a fifth-year senior and four-year starter at Ohio, also likely will play a key special-teams role. Ellenz said Jaguars special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis had Brown graded highly in that area.
"The special teams need is big," Ellenz said.
