11 PICKS TIES FRANCHISE RECORD
The Jaguars had 11 selections in this year's draft, tying for the most in franchise history (1998, 2000). The total included six defensive players, four on offense and one punter.
NELSON VISITS JACKSONVILLE MUNICIPAL STADIUM
Jaguars first round pick Reggie Nelson visited Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Sunday morning and met with the Jaguars coaching staff and local media. It wasn't his first trip to Jacksonville. "We played Georgia every year here so this is a second home for me," Nelson said.
NELSON ON JOINING THE JAGUARS AND PLAYING WITH FORMER GATORS
"They have Mike P (Peterson) and Fred (Taylor). Demetrius (Webb) and I were ex-teammates and now we're teammates again. It's real exciting to be on the same team as these veterans. I just want to come in here and help them out the best way I can."
HISTORY OF MULTIPLE FOURTH ROUND PICKS; WITHOUT FIFTH ROUND PICK
The Jaguars selected punter Adam Podlesh and defensive end Brian Smith with their two fourth round picks. It marks the sixth time in franchise history the Jaguars have had multiple fourth round picks. The Jaguars selected George Wrighster and LaBrandon Toefield in 2003 and Anthony Maddox and Ernest Wilford in 2004. The Jaguars traded their fifth round pick in this year's draft, marking the third time in franchise history (2002, 2003) the Jaguars were without a fifth round pick.
HIGHEST DRAFTED PUNTER IN JAGUARS HISTORY; FIRST PLAYER FROM MARYLAND
Punter Adam Podlesh was selected with the 101st overall pick in the fourth round, the highest-drafted punter in Jaguars history. He joined David Leaverton (2001, 5th round) as the only two punters selected in club history. Podlesh was the first Maryland player drafted by the Jaguars in their 13-year history.
PODLESH ON BEING FIRST PUNTER DRAFTED IN 2007
"It means a lot to me. It shows that I might have been valued more than other punters. It's just a great honor to be the first because you don't see a lot of punters drafted at all."
GATTIS BECOMES THIRD WAKE FOREST PLAYER TO BECOME A JAGUAR
Josh Gattis becomes the third Wake Forest player to become a Jacksonville Jaguar, following guard Ben Coleman (1995-99) and long snapper Joe Zelenka (2001-present). Gattis is the highest Wake Forest draft pick since fullback Ovie Mughelli was selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
DID YOU KNOW
In the last 12 years, 44 Jaguars draft choices have started at least one contest in their rookie season, including 16 games last year. Linebacker Clint Ingram (11 games), tight end Marcedes Lewis (3 games), running back Maurice Jones-Drew (1 game) and Dee Webb (1 game) each made starts as a rookie in 2006.
NBA CONNECTION
Offensive guard Uche Nwaneri was born in Dallas, but his parents are Nigerian. They came to the United States in 1973. Nwaneri's cousin, Ike Diogu, plays for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.
HEAD COACH JACK DEL RIO ON FIRST-ROUND PICK REGGIE NELSON
"We think he's an athletic free safety in the mold of Rashean Mathis and Ed Reed. In terms of athletic ability, this is a guy who has played some nickel, has played some corner; he's a free safety in our minds. A very athletic guy with tremendous ball skills, great range and he's got speed to close and make plays. He's blocked kicks and plays with a lot of passion. He's a lot of fun to watch. We think he's a great addition to our football team."
LANDRI JOINS FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATE, MAURICE JONES-DREW
Defensive tackle Derek Landri will see a familiar face in the Jaguars lockerroom when he reports to Jacksonville in two weeks. Landri and Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew were teammates at national powerhouse De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. Landri, who never lost a high school game, was only the third De La Salle player to ever receive California Player of the Year honors, joining D.J. Williams (1999) and Amani Toomer (1991).
GATTIS HAS FOND MEMORIES OF JACKSONVILLE
Jaguars safety Josh Gattis has good memories of his last game played at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Gattis led a Wake Forest team to win over Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game on December 2, 2006. "It's a fabulous stadium," Gattis said. "It's a great atmosphere down there. First of all, you're playing with great weather down in Florida and it's a great city just to be in. I just can't wait to get back down there and run back on that field one more time."
FINDING A PLAYER ON THE SECOND DAY
There are several current Jaguars who were drafted on the second day and have developed into major contributors for the club. Gerald Sensabaugh (5th round, 2005), Ernest Wilford (4th round, 2004), Bobby McCray (7th round, 2004), George Wrighster (4th round, 2003), LaBrandon Toefield (4th round, 2003), David Garrard (4th round, 2002) and Rob Meier (7th round, 2000) were all second-day picks.
DID YOU KNOW
Maryland punter Adam Podlesh (4th round) and Wake Forest safety Josh Gattis (5th round) were the first players drafted by the Jaguars from their respective schools.
OFFENSIVE GUARD UCHE NWANERI ON HIS STYLE OF PLAY
"I feel like I am a very aggressive player. My run blocking skills are really good. I feel like I play with a lot of attitude which I attribute back to playing defense my whole career before coming to Purdue. I just try to go out and attack when I get out on the field. I feel that that is a strength for me that I can develop even more with the Jaguars."
SATURDAY, APRIL 28 NOTES
DRAFT DAY FAN FEST DRAWS CROWD OF 4,500
More than 4,500 fans turned out for the Jaguars' 13th Annual Bud Light Draft Day Party on Saturday at the Jacksonville Landing. Pro Bowlers Rashean Mathis and John Henderson headlined a group of current and former Jacksonville Jaguars who greeted fans and signed autographs. The 2007 ROAR of the Jaguars Cheerleaders performed, as well as the D-Line.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA NORTH
Reggie Nelson became the sixth player drafted by the Jaguars from the University of Florida, the most from any college. Nelson joined Fred Taylor (1998, 1st round), Mike Pearson (2002, 2nd round), Chris Doering (1996, 6th round), Bobby McCray (2004, 7th round) and Dee Webb (2006, 7th round) as players drafted from Florida. The addition of Nelson gives the Jaguars six players who played collegiately at the University of Florida on their current roster (Taylor, McCray, Webb, Mike Peterson, Jeremy Mincey). It marked the second consecutive year the Jaguars drafted a Florida player as they took Webb in the seventh round of the 2006 draft.
DURANT REPRESENTS DIVISION I-AA HAMPTON
Hampton linebacker Justin Durant was selected with the 48th overall pick in the second round, the 19th draft pick in franchise history from Division I-AA and the second-highest drafted player from Division I-AA. Rashean Mathis, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2006, was the highest drafted player in franchise history from Division I-AA as he was selected with 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2003 draft.
HIGH SCHOOL GETS TWO PLAYERS IN TOP 50 PICKS
Linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Justin Durant were teammates at Wilson Bay High in Florence, South Carolina and both were selected in the first 48 picks of today's NFL draft. Timmons, who played at Florida State, was the 15th overall pick in the first round by Pittsburgh. Durant was selected by the Jaguars with the 48th overall pick in the second round. "I am so happy for him," Durant said of Timmons. "We went through a lot together in high school, the same struggles."
BROTHERLY LOVE
Justin Durant's brother, Darian, was the starting quarterback at the University of North Carolina from 2001-04.
NO. 21 HAS HISTORY
The Jaguars also had the 21st pick in 1997 (DT Renaldo Wynn) and 2005 (WR Matt Jones).
NELSON BECOMES SECOND SAFETY CHOSEN IN FIRST ROUND IN CLUB HISTORY
The selection of Reggie Nelson with the 21st pick was the Jaguars' seventh defensive player chosen in the first round and second safety selected (Donovin Darius, 1998). Since Jacksonville entered the league, the Jaguars have had 15 first round selections and have drafted in the following manner:
*DEFENSE (7) *
Defensive tackles (3)
Linebacker (1)
Cornerback (1)
Safety (2)
OFFENSE (8)
Wide receivers (3)
Running backs (2)
Offensive lineman (1)
Quarterback (1)
Tight end (1)
MOVING ON DOWN; TRADE WITH DENVER
The Jaguars traded their first round pick, 17th overall, to the Denver Broncos for their first round pick (21st overall), third round pick (86th overall) and sixth round pick (198th overall). It was the first time in franchise history the Jaguars traded their original first round pick.
SEVEN DEFENSIVE BACKS CHOSEN IN FIRST ROUND; TIED FOR MOST IN NFL HISTORY
Seven defensive backs were chosen in the first round of this year's draft including Reggie Nelson with the 21st overall pick by the Jaguars, the most in NFL history. Seven defensive backs were also chosen in 1998 and 2006. Other defensive backs chosen were: LaRon Landry (Washington, 6th), Darrelle Revis (New York Jets, 14th), Leon Hall (Cincinnati, 18th), Michael Griffin (Tennessee, 19th), Aaron Ross (New York Giants, 20th) and Brandon Meriweather (New England, 24th).
NELSON BECOMES NINTH UNDERCLASSMEN TAKEN BY THE JAGUARS
Reggie Nelson was the ninth underclassmen drafted by the Jaguars since juniors were formally allowed to enter the draft in 1990. The Jaguars selected two underclassmen in 2006 with RB Maurice Jones-Drew (2nd round) and Dee Webb (7th round). It marks the highest drafted underclassmen for the Jaguars since Reggie Williams was selected with the ninth overall pick in 2004.
THIRD-HIGHEST LINEBACKER TAKEN BY THE JAGUARS
Justin Durant was selected by the Jaguars with the 48th overall pick in the second round, the third-highest linebacker selected in franchise history. Kevin Hardy is the only linebacker selected in the first round in club history as he was the second overall pick in 1996, and Daryl Smith was drafted with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2004 draft.
DURANT BECOMES HIGHEST DRAFTED PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Linebacker Justin Durant became the highest draft pick in Hampton University history as he was selected 48th overall by the Jaguars. Durant joined cornerback Cordell Taylor as the only two Hampton players to be picked on the first day of the draft (rounds 1-3). Taylor was a second round choice by the Jaguars in 1998, the 57th overall pick.
DAY OF FIRSTS
Wide receiver Mike Walker was the first Central Florida player ever drafted by Jacksonville and first wide receiver taken in the third round in Jaguars history. Walker is only the fourth receiver taken on the first day by the Jaguars in club history, joining R. Jay Soward (1st round, 2000), Reggie Williams (1st round, 2004) and Matt Jones (1st round, 2005).
