The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed 17 rookie free agents to the roster. These 17 players are expected to join the Jaguars' six drafted players and others for rookie mini-camp beginning Friday, May 4. The Jaguars also waived first-year DT David Howard today.

JAGUARS 2012 ROOKIE FREE AGENT BIOs

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Kendrick Adams

Defensive end

6-5   244

Louisiana State

Enterprise, Alabama

Born November 3, 1988

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Career notes:Played two seasons at LSU after transferring from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi … Started 23 of 25 games at LSU and totaled 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks …* *Started 12 games as a senior and posted 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks … Attended Enterprise (Ala.) High School … Signed with Auburn out of high school … Has three siblings: Greg, Cherelle and Sheila.

Joe Banyard

Running back

5-11   213

Texas-El Paso

Sweetwater, Texas

Born November 12, 1988

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Career notes:Played two seasons at UTEP after transferring from Texas Christian … Did not appear in any games for the Horned Frogs … Finished career by leading team in 2011 with 867 yards on 127 rushes with six TDs along with 12 receptions for 67 yards … Established a career-high with 240 rushing yards on 22 carries against Houston on 9/29/11 … Honorable-mention all-conference selection … Led team as a junior in rushing yards (623) and rushing TDs (8) and added 16 special teams tackles … Graduated with a degree in multidisciplinary studies … Two-time selection to Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll … Attended Sweetwater High School where he played DB and RB … Rushed for 1,245 yards and 21 TDs as a senior … Full name: Joseph Aaron Banyard.

Lee Barbiasz

Offensive tackle

6-7   310

Northern Colorado

Milford, New Hampshire

Born July 3, 1988

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Career notes:Three-year starter at RT … Team captain … Started all 11 games as a senior … Made 11 starts as a junior and was a honorable mention All-Big Sky selection … Moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore with 10 starts … Appeared in nine games as a redshirt freshman … Graduated with a degree in human communications … Participated in Pro Day at Colorado State … Attended Milford High School and lettered in football, basketball and lacrosse … Went to Kent Prep School in 2007 and played basketball … Oldest of four children … Younger brother, Dwight, is currently a high jumper at the University of Florida … Born in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Antwon Blake

Cornerback

5-9   198

Texas-El Paso

Houston, Texas

Born August 8, 1990

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Career notes:Four-year letterman and two-year starter at CB … Career totals included 137 tackles and 22 passes defensed … Credited with 46 tackles, seven passes defensed and two blocked kicks as a senior … Started all 12 games at LCB as a junior and finished with 60 tackles, two forced fumbles, two tackles for loss and a team-high 11 passes defensed … Played in eight games as a sophomore and missed four games with an ankle injury … Majored in multidisciplinary studies … Attended Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas … Two-year starter and finished with 53 tackles, four INTs and two fumble recoveries as a senior … Three-year letterman in track & field, competing in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races, in addition to being a member of the 4x100 relay unit … Born in Jacksonville, Florida … Full name: Antwon Valentino Blake.

Jarrett Boykin

Wide receiver

6-2   212

Virginia Tech

Charlotte, North Carolina

Born November 4, 1989

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Career notes:Four-year starter, playing in 54 games with 45 starts … Finished career with school-record 184 receptions for 2,884 yards (15.7 avg.) with 18 TDs … Led team in receiving yards in each of his four seasons … Established single-season school record with 61 receptions for 761 yards as a senior with five TDs … Made a career-high 10 catches for 106 yards against North Carolina … Led team as a junior with 53 catches for 847 yards and six TDs … Had a season-high eight receptions for 117 yards against Central Michigan … Posted a team-high 40 receptions for 835 yards (20.9 avg.) with five TDs as a sophomore … Registered six receptions for 144 yards against Duke and 120 yards on four receptions against Tennessee in Chick-fil-A Bowl … Posted team-high 441 receiving yards as a freshman and ranked second with 30 catches … Attended Butler High School in North Carolina … First-team all-state selection as a senior, catching 60 passes for 1,252 yards and 17 TDs … Also rushed for 276 yards and eight TDs … Majored in apparel, housing and resource management … Son of Aretha and Harold Harrison … Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee … Full name: Jarrett Boykin.

Mike Brewster

Center

6-4   314

Ohio State

Orlando, Florida

Born July 27, 1989

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Career notes:Four-year starter … Named with Mike Adams as the team's Jim Parker Award winner as the team's most outstanding offensive lineman in 2011 … One of four team captains as voted on by players … Ended career with 49 straight starts, the second-longest streak in school history (Luke Fickell, 50 starts) … Named first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten as a junior … Was the only junior to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as the nation's outstanding center … Was a Freshman All-America honoree after making 10 starts … Graduated in December 2011 with a degree in strategic communications … Attended Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida … Played offense and defense and earned all-state honors as a senior and earned All-America honors from USA Today, Parade and EA Sports … Regarded as a five-star prospect by Scout.com and was listed as the No. 1 center in the class of 2008 … Full name: Michael Brewster.

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Ryan Davis

Defensive end

6-2   261

Bethune-Cookman

Tampa, Florida

February 24, 1989

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Career notes:Finished career with 22 sacks and 49.5 tackles for loss … Named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after recording 21.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks … Led MEAC in sacks and ranked second in tackles for loss … Posted 65 tackles (40 solo), eight forced fumbles, 17 QB pressures and two fumble recoveries in final season … Named defensive performer of the year by the College Football Performance Awards … Started 10 games as a junior and led team in tackles for loss (18) and sacks (6.5) … Added eight QB pressures, two forced fumbles and one INT while earning second-team All-MEAC honors … Had 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss as a sophomore … Majored in mass communications … Played TE and DE at Howard W. Blake High School in Tampa, Florida and earned Hillsborough County All-Star honors …  Also lettered in basketball and was the 2007 Hillsborough County Slam Dunk Champion and Western Conference Player of the Year … Participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Future Business Leaders of America … Son of the late Ronnie Davis, Sr. and Precious Davis.

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Antonio Dennard

Cornerback

5-11   185

Langston

Chicago, Illinois

Born December 20, 1989

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Career notes:Attended Langston University, an NAIA program that had only 11.5 scholarships in 2011 … Four-year letterman … Finished with 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three INTs as a senior … Majored in kinesiology … Attended Wakeland High School in Chicago … Saw action at WR and DB … Son of Yumeka Dennard and Johnnie and Lolita Harris …*  *

Kevin Elliott

Wide receiver

6-3   213

Florida A&M

Orlando, Florida

Born December 21, 1988

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Career notes:Four-year letterman at WR and starred on special teams … Had 173 career receptions for 1,742 yards and 20 TDs … Compiled 709 all-purpose yards as a senior and finished with six special teams tackles … Finished with 30 receptions for 381 yards and one TD as a junior … Led team as a sophomore with 44 receptions for 544 yards and seven TDs while earning second-team all-conference honors … Majored in communications … Attended Colonial High School in Orlando, Florida and lettered in football, basketball and track … Had 20 receptions for 250 yards and six TDs as a senior along with four rushing scores … Was named the Orange County Athlete of the Year as a senior … Won state titles in high jump and triple jump … Son of Tonya and Al Harrison … Has two siblings, a brother Dionte Harrison and a sister, Jaylyn Harrison … Spends time as a Pop Warner football and basketball coach … Full name: Kevin Elliott.

D.J. Hall, Jr.

Guard

6-1   319

Texas State

Palestine, Texas

Born December 24, 1988

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Career notes:Four-year starter at RG … Two-time All-America and four-time All-Southland Conference selection … Team captain … Registered 77.5 career pancake blocks … Started every game as a junior and was chosen as one of the nation's Top 10 FCS offensive linemen by The Sports Network … Started all 11 games as a sophomore and was part of an offense that produced more than 422 yards and nearly 32 points per game … Started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman … Majored in business management … Attended Palestine Prep School in Texas where he lettered four seasons in football … Named to Associated Press Class 3A All-State Second-Team as a senior … Born in Heilburg, Germany … Son of Sheila Hall.

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Dontrel Johnson

Cornerback

5-9   176

Murray State

Moultrie, Georgia

Born June 1, 1988

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Career notes:Played two seasons at Murray State as a CB and return specialist and earned second-team All-OVC honors in both seasons  … Played WR in Casino Del Sol All-Star Game in Tucson, Arizona in January 2012 ... Battled injuries as a senior and finished with a conference-leading 12 passes defensed and averaged 16.2 yards per punt return … Started all 11 games as a junior at CB … Became first punt returner in school history to earn All-America honors as he led the FCS with a 22.8-yard average … Earned second-team All-OVC honors as DB and return specialist … Had punt returns for TDs of 71 and 91 yards … Played two seasons at Garden City Community College in Kansas and totaled 88 tackles, 11 INTs and nine passes defensed … Earned degree in integrated studies … Attended Colquitt County High School and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior ... Son of Lynward and Rose Spry … Has three brothers, Ronald, Dejaun and Alvin … Full name: Dontrel Anthony Johnson.

Drew Nowak

Defensive tackle

6-3   292

Western Michigan

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Born March 7, 1990

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Career notes:Four-year letterman, playing in 47 games with 32 starts … Career totals included 180 tackles (105 solo), 30.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks … Earned Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior … Led MAC with 8.5 sacks and ranked second with 20 tackles for loss … Totaled 91 tackles and two fumble recoveries in final season … Majored in engineering … Attended De Pere High School and was ranked No. 8 in Wisconsin by Scout.com … Served as team captain for two years and recorded 291 career tackles and 36 sacks … Son of Russ and Denise Nowak.

Nelson Rosario

Wide receiver

6-5   225

UCLA

Oceanside, California

Born December 24, 1989

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Career notes:Four-year letterman … Finished career with 146 receptions for 2,362 yards (16.2 avg.) and eight TDs, one of only 10 players in school history with 2,000-plus career receiving yards … Ranked fifth on the school's all-time list for receptions and receiving yards … Totaled a team-high 64 receptions for 1,161 yards (18.1 avg.) and five TDs as a senior … Posted four 100-yard receiving games … Had six receptions for 98 yards and two TDs in Pac-12 Championship game … Ranked second on team with 29 receptions for 309 yards as a junior … Played in 13 games as a sophomore and led team with 723 receiving yards and 17.2 yards per catch while ranking second with 42 receptions … Thirty of his 42 receptions went for first downs … Majored in history … Three-year letterman at El Camino High School in California … Ranked No. 4 WR in state by Scout.com after catching 52 passes for 1,143 yards and 14 TDs as a senior … Also starred in track and his long jump mark of 24-8 ½ at the 2008 San Diego Section prelims was best in nation at the time … Son of Rick and Sylvia Rosario … Has one sister, Amber … Cousin, Chris White, played football at Alabama-Birmingham … Full name: Nelson Ricardo Rosario.

J.K. Schaffer

Linebacker

6-0   232

Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Born June 10, 1990

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Career notes:Played in 50 games in four seasons … One of only four players in Big East history to record 100-plus tackles in three different seasons … Two-time All-Big East selection and member of three conference championship teams … Career totals included 337 tackles (182 solo), nine sacks, 28 tackles for loss, seven INTs, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 15 passes defensed … Started all 13 games as a senior and produced career-best 114 tackles along with 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three INTs and three forced fumbles …* *Selected as the 2011 American Eagle Outfitters Big East Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Four-time selection to the Big East All-Academic Team … Majored in criminal justice and will graduate in June … Attended LaSalle High School in Ohio and was two-year letter winner as LB … Totaled 150 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks as a senior … Son of Jerry and Mary Schaffer … Played in the 2012 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, an all-star game in California … Full name: Jerome Kyle Schaffer.

Julian Stanford

Linebacker

6-1   229

Wagner

Bloomfield, Connecticut

Born September 2, 1990

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Career notes:Four-year letterman … Began career as a DE before moving to LB as a sophomore …* *Named First-Team All-Northeast Conference as a senior … Ranked seventh in the conference with 11.5 tackles for loss and added five sacks … Added 53 tackles, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one blocked kick … Returned two of his three INTs for TDs … Was second-team all-conference choice as a junior after starting 10 games … Compiled 64 tackles (23 solo) and led team with 12.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks … Tied for the conference lead in sacks …  Played DE, LB and RB at Bloomfield High School.

Frank Trotter

Defensive end

6-1   269

Memphis

Mobile, Alabama

Born January 17, 1990

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Career notes:Four-year letterman … Made 36 career starts including 33 consecutive starts to close his career … Ranked third in school history with 36.5 career tackles for loss … Registered 13-plus tackles for loss in each of his final two seasons … Coached on the defensive line by former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose at Memphis … Teammate of 2012 first-round draft pick DT Dontari Poe … Two-time All-Conference USA honorable-mention selection …  Led the DL as a senior with 61 tackles and was team leader in tackles for loss (13) and sacks (5) … Returned a fumble 18 yards for a TD against Marshall … Started all 12 games as a junior and posted career-high 16.5 tackles for loss … Recorded 3.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons … Named to Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2008-09 … Attended John LeFlore High School in Alabama and started as OL and DL … Registered 68 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries as a senior … Son of Bernadette Key and Frank Williams … Full name: Frank Trotter.

Matt Veldman

Tight end

6-7   256

North Dakota State

Becker, Minnesota

Born August 12, 1988

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Career notes:Four-year letterman, playing ifn 42 games … Team captain … Finished career with 49 receptions for 584 yards and seven TDs …Started all 15 games as a senior during schools' run to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship … Made career-high 26 catches for 331 yards and three TDs … Earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors … Semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Award … Received the Missouri Valley Football Conference's President's Council and Commissioner's Academic Excellence Awards … Father, Gregg, played football for Moorhead State University from 1979-82, and was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 1983… Attended Becker High School in Minnesota and was finalist for the "Mr. Football" award as a senior … Was consensus first-team all-state selection … Starred at TE and DL … Also lettered in basketball … Has two brothers, Ryan and Mike, and one sister, Lauren … Uncles, Steve and Mark Veldman, played football for North Dakota … Majored in marketing with a minor in agribusiness … Interned at Pedigree Technologies during the summer …