The Jaguars on Monday announced their 2012 collegiate free-agent signings. If history is an indication, from the list will come significant contribution, and probably sooner than later.
The Jaguars, who over the weekend selected six players in the 2012 NFL Draft agreed to contract terms with 17 collegiate free agents, a list that included three wide receivers, three defensive ends, two linebackers and three cornerbacks.
They also signed a running back, a tight end, an offensive tackle, a guard, a center and a defensive tackle.
"Let's just say one or two make your 53-man roster – think of the value that has," said Jaguars Assistant Director College Personnel Tim Mingey, who oversees the collegiate free-agent signings.
"Historically, you get two or three guys, and to me, that's an important part of the process. That's the eighth round of the draft – at least."
Among the notable signings:
LSU defensive end Kendrick Adams, a speed rusher off the edge, and Ohio State center Mike Brewster, an All-American as a junior who also played in the Senior Bowl in January.
The Jaguars also signed Bethune-Cookman defensive end Ryan Davis, a dominant player at times in college, and cornerback Antonio Dennard of NAIA Langston, who increasingly drew interest as the draft approached.
FAMU wide receiver Kevin Elliott could be an impact player on special teams, and Murray State cornerback Dontrel Johnson excelled as a returner in college.
Others to watch include Western Michigan defensive tackle Drew Nowak, Cincinnati linebacker J.K. Schaffer, Wagner linebacker Julian Stanford, North Dakota tight end Matt Veldman and Texas State guard D.J. Hall.
"I think we have guys who you look at and go, 'Hmm,''' Mingey said. "There are guys who you look at and if you hadn't done tape, you'd want to see some more tape.''
We'll break down the signings individually below, but history indicates we'll be talking about these guys at the end of training camp, and that a lot of the guys we talk about will be on the roster.
History indicates, too, that they may be more than backups.
Jaguars fullback Montell Owens, a Pro Bowl selection the past two seasons, made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2006, and linebacker Russell Allen – who recently re-signed a multi-year deal with the team – made it as an undrafted rookie in 2009.
In each of Gene Smith's three previous seasons as general manager, at least one rookie free agent has made the roster out of training camp. Allen and defensive end Julius Williams made it in 2009, linebacker Jacob Cutrera, offensive tackle Kevin Haslam and defensive end Aaron Morgan made it in 2010 and offensive tackle Cameron Bradfield, wide receiver Jamar Newsome and cornerback Kevin Rutland made it last season.
Like Owens and Allen, Morgan, Bradfield and Rutland remain on the roster.
Quickly, a look at the Jaguars' undrafted free-agent signings this year:
Running backs (1)
*Joe Banyard (5-11, 213), Texas-El Paso.He rushed for 867 yards on 127 carries last season, including a 240-yard game on 22 carries against Houston. He played two seasons at UTEP after transferring from Texas Christian.
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Wide receivers (3)
*Jarrett Boykin, (6-2, 212) Virginia Tech. A four-year starter, he started 45 out of 54 games and finished with a school-record 184 receptions for 2,884 yards (15.7 avg.) with 18 touchdowns. He also led the team in receiving yards in each of his four seasons, establishing a single-season school record with 61 receptions for 761 yards as a senior with five touchdowns.
*Kevin Elliott, (6-3, 213) Florida A&M.A special teams standout, he had 173 career receptions for 1,742 yards and 20 touchdowns.
*Nelson Rosario (6-5, 225), UCLA.He had 146 career receptions for 2,362 yards with eight touchdowns and is one of 10 players in school history with 2,000-plus career receiving yards. He finished with 64 receptions for 1,161 yards (18.1 avg.) and five touchdowns as a senior and is fifth on the school's all-time record list for receptions and receiving yards.
Tight end (1)
*Matt Veldman (6-7, 256), North Dakota State.He had 49 receptions for 584 yards and seven touchdowns, starting 15 games for NCAA Division I FCS Champions. He had a career-high 26 receptions for 331 yards and three touchdowns as a senior and earned second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.
Offensive tackle (1)
* Lee Barbiasz (6-7, 310), North Colorado.He started three seasons at right tackle, starting all 11 games as a senior and starting 11 as a junior, when he was an honorable mention All-Big Sky selection. He also started 10 games as a sophomore.
Guard (1)
*D.J. Hall, Jr. (6-1, 319), Texas State.A four-year starter at right guard, he was a two-time All-American and four-time All-Southland Conference selection who registered 77.5 career pancake blocks.
Center (1)
*Mike Brewster (6-4, 314) Ohio State.A four-year starter, he was named along with offensive tackle Mike Adams the team's Jim Parker Award winner as the team's most outstanding offensive lineman as a senior. He started the final 49 games of his career, the second-longest streak in school history (Luke Fickell, 50 starts). A first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten as a junior, he was the only junior to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy as the nation's outstanding center. He also was a Freshman All-America honoree after making 10 starts.
Defensive ends (3)
*Kendrick Adams (6-5, 244), Louisiana State.He played two seasons at LSU, transferring from Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College. He started 23 of 25 games at LSU with 49 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks. He started 12 games as a senior and had 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
*Ryan Davis (6-2, 261), Bethune-Cookman. **A two-year starter, he was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior with 21.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He finished his career with 22 sacks and 49.5 tackles for loss and led MEAC in sacks as a senior. He had 65 tackles (40 solo), eight forced fumbles, 17 QB pressures and two fumble recoveries as a senior, and was named the defensive performer of the year by the College Football Performance Awards. He also started 10 games as a junior and led team in tackles for loss (18) and sacks (6.5) while earning second-team All-MEAC honors.
*Frank Trotter (6-1, 269), Memphis.He started 36 career games, including the final 33 of his collegiate career and also ranked third in school history with 36.5 career tackles for loss. He had 13-plus tackles for loss in each of his final two seasons and was a two-time All-Conference USA honorable-mention selection.
Defensive tackle (1)
*Drew Nowak (6-3, 292), Western Michigan.He started 32 of 47 games in college, totaling 180 tackles (105 solo), 30.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks. He was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, leading MAC with 8.5 sacks and ranking second with 20 tackles for loss. He had 91 tackles and two fumble recoveries as a senior.
Linebackers (2)
*J.K. Schaffer (6-0, 232), Cincinnati.He played in 50 games in four seasons, and was one of four players in Big East history to record 100-plus tackles in three different seasons. A two-time All-Big East selection and member of three conference championship teams, he finished his career with 337 tackles (182 solo), nine sacks, 28 tackles for loss, seven INTs, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 15 passes defensed. He started 13 games as a senior with a career-best 114 tackles and 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three INTs and three forced fumbles.
* Julian Stanford (6-1, 229), Wagner.A first-team All-Northeast Conference selection as a senior, he had 11.5 tackles for loss that season and five sacks. He also had 53 tackles as a senior with five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. He returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns. He also was a second-team All-Conference selection as a junior.
Cornerbacks (3)
*Antwon Blake (5-9, 198), Texas-El Paso.A two-year starter at cornerback, he finished his career with 137 tackles and 22 passes defensed. He also had 46 tackles, seven passes defensed and two blocked kicks as a senior.
*Antonio Dennard (5-11, 185), Langston.A four-year letterman at NAIA program that had only 11.5 scholarships in 2011, he finished with 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three INTs as a senior.
*Dontrel Johnson, (5-9, 176) Murray State.He played two seasons at Murray State as a cornerback and return specialist, earning second-team All-OVC Conference in both seasons. He played wide receiver in the Casino Del Sol All-Star Game in Tucson, Arizona in January 2012. While battling injuries as a senior, he finished with a conference-leading 12 passes defensed and averaged 16.2 yards per punt return. He also started 11 games at cornerback as a junior, becoming the first punt returner in school history to earn All-America honors while leading the FCS with a 22.8-yard average. He also earned All-OVC honors as DB and return specialist and had punt returns for touchdowns of 71 and 91 yards.
