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Official: Smoot signs rookie contract

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JACKSONVILLE – And then there were none.

As of early Friday evening, all seven of the Jaguars' selections in the 2017 draft have signed their rookie contracts.

Dawuane Smoot, a defensive end from Illinois and the team's third-round '17 selection, on Friday signed his rookie contract with the team. The team announced the move Friday afternoon.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"It was a great feeling; just finally making it official and finally becoming a Jaguar feels great," Smoot said early Friday evening. "It was surreal before when I was practicing with the guys in OTAs and minicamp, but when you actually put pen to paper and you're actually signing it really becomes real.

"It's an honor to finally be an official Jaguar."

Smoot like the Jaguars' other rookies participated in 10 organized team activities the last three weeks as well as the team's three-day mandatory minicamp that ended Thursday. The Jaguars will open 2017 Training Camp in late July.

"I feel like I'm ready," Smoot said. "I feel like I was able to get some connection with the guys and talk to veterans and learn as much as possible. I feel like I've been able to really get in the playbook and get comfortable with the system. I feel like when camp comes around I'll be ready."

Smoot (6-feet-3, 264 pounds), the No. 68 overall selection the draft, played in 40 games for Illinois and registered 137 tackles with 38.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. He served as a team captain as a senior, playing in 12 games with 56 tackles and 15.0 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was named third-team All-Big 10 as a senior.

Smoot played in 12 games with 40 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and a career-high 8.0 sacks as a junior.

Smoot became the seventh of team's seven '17 draft selections to sign. Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette (first round), Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson (second round), Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook (fourth round), Ohio linebacker Blair Brown (fifth round), Minnesota cornerback Jalen Myrick (seventh round) and Miami fullback Marquez Williams (seventh round) signed earlier in the offseason.

"It feels good, because you finally have your job," Smoot said. "You're finally at the point where you're making a living and you're not worried about other distractions. You're just grinding and doing what you have to do for the job you have now. That's the way I'm looking at it: this is my career now, and I want to be in this for a long time. I'm trying to learn as much as possible and stay in this career as long as possible."

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