The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed six players to contracts for the 2001 season. Veteran TE Damon Jones, first year players FB Kevin Clemons, DB Evan Hlavacek, WR Mike Horacek and DB Craig Miller, and rookie FS James Watkins have all signed contracts with the team. Length and terms of the contracts are undisclosed.
Jones, 26, suffered a torn ACL in the 2000 season opener at Cleveland and was placed on injured reserve on September 5. He has made 18 starts in 43 games played and has 33 career catches for 410 yards and 10 touchdowns after being drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round in 1997. Jones would have been an unrestricted free agent in March.
Miller, 23, played in the Jaguars' first four October games until being waived on October 28, starting twice in nickel formations and making three tackles (one solo) and one pass defensed. He was signed to the Jaguars practice squad on November 29. He had been signed off the Colts' practice squad on September 27. A 5-11, 199-pounder out of Utah State where he was a three-year starter, Miller spent all of the 1999 season on the Colts' practice squad.
Horacek, 27, was signed to the Jaguars practice squad on December 20. He spent three weeks in October on the Green Bay Packers' practice squad, and he was in the Detroit Lions' training camp in 1996. He was a three-year starter at Iowa State who is 6-0, 201 pounds.
Hlavacek, 26, played last season with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League as a defensive specialist, recording three interceptions and leading the team in tackles. In four years at San Diego State, he was a return specialist, wide receiver and running back. In 1994 and '95 he led the team in receiving. He is 5-10, 185 pounds.
Clemons, 24, played last season with the New Jersey Red Dogs of the AFL, where he was third on the team in total offense. He attended Grand Valley State, where he registered 17 sacks in two seasons and was named All-Conference twice. He is 6-1, 275 pounds.
Watkins, 23, played in 1999 at Tennessee State after graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1998. At Vanderbilt he played three years, starting five games and being named Academic All-SEC twice. He is 6-4, 210 pounds and resides in Hillsboro, Alabama.
