JACKSONVILLE – The biggest name of the rookie class officially is now a Jaguar.
That means the Jaguars now have their first-round selection under contract as a busy week of signings continues at EverBank Field.
Running back Leonard Fournette, the No. 4 overall selection by the Jaguars in the 2017 NFL Draft, officially signed his rookie contract with the team Wednesday. The contract by NFL rule is a four-year deal with the team having an option for the fifth season.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"Throughout this whole process you still have to go out there and work hard, but the only thing about it is you are working for money now," Fournette said shortly after signing his contract. "Your mindset doesn't have to change. Money is money, but at the end of the day, you come here to win.
"You come here, for me, to get better, to make the team better and make the whole foundation better. That is my main focus."
Fournette participated in the Jaguars' rookie minicamp last weekend and worked with veterans early this week in Phase 2 of the team's offseason conditioning program.
"It reminds me of my freshman year in college, but these guys in their thirties are a lot older than me," Fournette said. "It is not a big thing. We are out there competing and creating friendships with your teammates and getting to know them better. …
"For me, my biggest thing is just team overall. Getting comfortable with each other. When things are not right outside of football we can come to each other and talk about it. Building that loyalty and becoming a closer family."
Fournette (6-feet-0, 228 pounds), the earliest-drafted running back in the franchise's 23-year history, rushed for 3,830 yards and 40 touchdowns on 616 carries in three collegiate seasons. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry for his career.
He rushed for 1,953 yards and 20 touchdowns on 300 carries as a sophomore, then rushed for 843 yards and eight touchdowns this past season while playing through a preseason ankle injury.
Fournette was a consensus All-America selection as a sophomore, leading the SEC and the nation in rushing with 162.8 yards per game. He rushed for more than 100 yards in 19 of 32 games, setting or tying 23 school records in his career.
Fournette became the fifth of the team's seven '17 draft selections to sign with the team. Seventh-round cornerback Jalen Myrick (Minnesota) signed Thursday and seventh-round fullback Marquez Williams (Miami) signed Friday with fourth-round wide receiver Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma) and fifth-round linebacker Blair Brown (Ohio) signing Tuesday.
The Jaguars also selected Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson (second round) and Illinois defensive end Dawuane Smoot (third round).
