Tag: JAGUARS

Donovin Darius named No. 16 on Jags All-25

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Former Jaguars S Donovin Darius has been named No. 16 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the Jacksonville media.

“I want to say, ‘Thank you’ to the Jaguars organization and everyone that selected me to be a part of the All-25 team,” said Darius. “It was an honor and a privilege to play in front of such great fans in a great community. I had a great time in Jacksonville and go Jags!”

Darius, 6-1, 225, was selected 25th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. He started all 115 games he appeared in for Jacksonville from 1998-2006, including four seasons in which he started all 16 games. He totaled 858 career tackles, seven forced fumbles and six fumbles recovered with Jacksonville. Darius’ 858 tackles rank third in Jaguars history, while his 20 takeaways are the second-most in franchise history. He produced more than 100 tackles in each of his first seven seasons and he led the team with a career-high five INTs in 2004. The former Syracuse product signed a one-day contract in 2011 to retire as a Jaguar.

“The guy took great pride in his body and he built himself to be a battering ram,” said Brian Sexton, Jaguars senior correspondent and an All-25 voting member. “That’s what he was for most of his career. Battering rams don’t make the hall of fame, but battering rams make a huge impact in the game and he did.”

Currently, Darius lives in the Jacksonville area and serves as a transition leadership coach for corporations and teams where he speaks about how to work towards a championship mindset and develop peak performance. He is the founder and president of the Donovin Darius Foundation, a Jacksonville-based, nonprofit organization that hosts life camps and mentorship to people in the areas of personal leadership and life skills. In 2017, he wrote a book entitled “Next Level Motivation – Principles for Living Life to the Fullest.”

The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.

JAGUARS ALL-25:

16. SS Donovin Darius (1998-2006)

17. TE Kyle Brady (1999-2006)

18 G Vince Manuwai (2003-10)

19. LB Mike Peterson (2003-08)

20. CB Aaron Beasley (1996-2001)

21. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)

22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)

23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)

24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

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Kyle Brady named No. 17 on Jaguars All-25

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Former TE Kyle Brady has been named No. 17 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 presented by Sharpie is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.

Brady was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft before signing with Jacksonville as a free agent prior to the 1999 season. The New Cumberland, Penn. native played in all 16 games in six of his eight seasons in Jacksonville. Overall, he played in 197 games with 175 starts during his 12-year professional career, including his four years in New York, eight in Jacksonville and one in New England. His career totals include 343 receptions for 3,519 receiving yards and 25 TDs, 13 of which he tallied during his tenure with the Jaguars. From 1999-2002, he, along with WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, led the team in receiving, and remained one of QB Mark Brunell’s favorite targets as the Jaguars’ explosive offense led them to an AFC Championship game berth in 1999.

Brady attended Penn State, where he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1993 and 1994 and helped the Nittany Lions lead the nation in total offense and scoring offense during both seasons.

“He was probably the best blocking tight end to ever play the game,” said Brian Sexton, Jaguars senior correspondent and All-25 voter. “Whether it was pass blocking or run blocking, Kyle Brady played tight end like an All-Pro offensive tackle.”

                                                              JAGUARS ALL-25:

17. TE Kyle Brady (1999-2006)

18. G Vince Manuwai (2003-10)

19. LB Mike Peterson (2003-08)

20. CB Aaron Beasley (1996-2001)

21. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)

22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)

23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)

24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Vince Manuwai named No. 18 on Jaguars All-25

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The late Vince Manuwai, who played on Jacksonville’s offensive line from 2003-10, has been named No. 18 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 presented by Sharpie is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the jacksonville media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.

“One of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had the pleasure of going to battle with,” said former Jaguars RB Fred Taylor. “Big Vince never complained. He’d always say, ‘Whatever you wanna do, Bruddah, I got you,’ and he always rushed to snatch guys off the pile and pick me up.”

Manuwai, a 6-2, 333-pound offensive guard, was originally selected by Jacksonville in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He was a key player in the team’s run-game, and during his first five seasons Manuwai missed only one game and helped the Jaguars rush for 2,541 yards in 2006 and 2,391 in 2007. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Manuwai was a 1999 graduate of Farrington High School, earning letters in football, track and field and basketball. He played collegiately at the University of Hawaii and was a three-year starter, regarded as one of the best pass-protectors in school history after not allowing a sack in his 35 career starts.

“A scout once told me about getting guys from Hawaii, that you’re either going to get clowns or quiet guys who will just maul you, and Vinny Manuwai was a quiet guy who just mauled defensive players,” said Cole Pepper, a sports reporter with WJXT and a member of the All-25 voting panel.

JAGUARS ALL-25:

18. G Vince Manuwai (2003-10)

19. Mike Peterson (2003-08)

20. CB Aaron Beasley (1996-2001)

21. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)

22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)

23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)

24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Mike Peterson named No. 19 on Jaguars All-25

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Former LB Mike Peterson has been named No. 19 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 presented by Sharpie is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the Jacksonville media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year.

“I would like to thank everyone for including me in the All-25,” Peterson said. “It was an honor playing for the Jaguars, living in the city and playing in front of Jaguars fans. You guys are the best. Go Jaguars and DUUUVAL!”

Peterson, 6-1, 233, was originally a second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft.  He joined the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in 2003 and made an immediate impact, starting all 16 games and leading the team with three INTs. In 2005, Peterson led the team in total tackles (132) and was named a second-team All-Pro selection. Peterson’s 837 career tackles during his six seasons in Jacksonville still rank fourth all-time in franchise history.

“He was one of my all-time favorite players,” said Vic Ketchman former Jaguars Insider and member of the Jaguars All-25 voting panel.  “He was a pro’s pro.  He was a sportswriter’s, a beat man’s, dream.”

Peterson played linebacker for the University of Florida and was a member of the 1996 national championship team.  After retiring following a 14-year NFL playing career, Peterson returned to his alma mater to begin his collegiate coaching career.  He is currently in his third season with the University of South Carolina where he serves as the outside linebackers coach.  Peterson and his wife, Chantal, have two sons, Mike Jr. and Gavin.  They established the Mike Peterson Foundation in 2004 to support and benefit under-served youth and socio-economically challenged families in Peterson’s hometown of Alachua, Fla. and his NFL cities of Jacksonville and Atlanta.

JAGUARS ALL-25:

19. LB Mike Peterson (2003-08)

20. CB Aaron Beasley (1996-2001)

21. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)

22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)

23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)

24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Aaron Beasley named no. 20 on Jaguars All-25

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 Former CB Aaron Beasley has been named No. 20 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the Jacksonville media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year. 

Beasley, 6-0, 205, was originally selected in the third round (63rd overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in 76 games (71 starts) for Jacksonville from 1996-2001, amassing 278 tackles and 15 INTs. In 1999, Beasley posted six INTs, tying for the second-most in a season in franchise history. Beasley’s six INTs in 1999 were tied for the sixth-most in the NFL and he started all 16 games for the Jaguars, helping Jacksonville record a league-leading 14 victories. Beasley’s 15 career INTs stand as the second-most in franchise history and his 93-yard INT return for a TD vs. San Francisco on Sept. 12, 1999 is the longest INT return in franchise history.

“As soon as I got here, Aaron Beasley was making plays,” said Cole Pepper, a WJXT sports anchor and All-25 voter. “Interceptions, big plays at big times. Some guys are really good at coverage. Some guys are big hitters and some guys, the ball just finds them. That was the thing with Beasley. The ball always found him, and he always found the ball.”

Beasley, who attended West Virginia, was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

  1. CB Aaron Beasley (1996-01)
  2. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)
  3. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)
  4. QB David Garrard (2002-10)
  5. Joel Smeenge (1995-00)
  6. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

 

Josh Scobee named No. 21 on Jaguars All-25

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Former K Josh Scobee has been named No. 21 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 presented by Sharpie is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.

“I want to thank everybody who voted for me for the All-25 team,” Scobee said. “I loved every minute of being a Jaguar. I love Jacksonville and I love this organization.”

Scobee, 6-1, 200, was originally drafted by Jacksonville in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft and remains the team’s all-time leading scorer (1,022 career points). He appeared in 168 games for the organization, the third-most in franchise history, from 2004-14. Scobee’s 11 seasons with the Jaguars are tied for the second-most in club annals, trailing only Brad Meester’s 14 seasons (2000-13). Scobee was an eight-time winner of the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award, the most by a player of any weekly AFC award in franchise history.

Scobee is the only player in Jaguars history to make a field goal in 13 or more consecutive games, a feat that he achieved twice in his career. Scobee and former K Mike Hollis are the only kickers in franchise history to make 20 consecutive FGs, a streak Scobee accomplished from Nov. 27, 2011 through Nov. 4, 2012. Scobee’s 59-yard game-winning FG on Oct. 3, 2010 vs. Indianapolis remains the longest made FG in franchise history.

Scobee made 235 of 291 career FG attempts (80.8%) with the Jaguars and his 235 career made FGs are the most in franchise history. Scobee’s 317 extra points are also the most in franchise history, while his 98.4 PAT pct. (317 of 322) ranks third in franchise history for kickers with a minimum of 25 PATs. Scobee registered 100-plus points in three of his 11 seasons with the franchise.

“He was Mr. Clutch,” said Mark Long, writer for the Associated Press and a Jaguars All-25 voter. “You could always count on him when you’re talking about that 50-yarder to win the game. He was going to make it. That’s the guy you wanted on the field in a tight game at the end. You just have to give him a chance.”

Scobee officially retired as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 13, 2017 and is active within the Jaguars Legends Community. Scobee and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Jacob and David.

JAGUARS ALL-25:

21. K Josh Scobee (2004-14)

22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)

23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)

24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Photo/courtesy: Jacksonville Jaguars

Gary Walker named No. 22 on Jaguars All-25

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Former DL Gary Walker has been named No. 22 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local Jacksonville media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.

Walker, 6-3, 324, was originally selected in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and signed with the Jaguars prior to the 1999 season. During his three seasons with the Jaguars from 1999-2001, Walker started 46 of 47 games and totaled 40 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks.

In his first season in Jacksonville, Walker posted 10.0 sacks, and joined Kevin Hardy and Tony Brackens as the first players in franchise history to post double-digit sacks in a single season. In that season, the Jaguars registered 55 team sacks, the most in a season in franchise history. During the 2001 season, Walker posted four consecutive games with a sack, and is one of just five players in franchise history to achieve the feat. Walker was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2001 season after posting 7.5 sacks and starting all 16 games.

“He was truly a tough guy, and took nothing from anybody, whether it was the opponents, his teammates or the media; it didn’t matter,” said Sam Kouvaris, WJXT’s sports director from 1981-2018 and a member of the All-25 voting panel. “Gary Walker is one of those guys that gives you instant legitimacy as a franchise. When you have the ability to attract a free agent like Gary Walker, he knows about your team, his agent knows, and your fans are all of a sudden like, ‘Wait a minute, Gary Walker’s going to come play for us?’ When the play would come his way, if he just decided that they weren’t going anywhere, he would just stop it instantly.”

Walker, who played collegiately at Auburn, currently resides in Franklin County in northern Ga. The two-time Pro Bowler spends time during retirement hanging with his family on his ranches in Texas, Ala. and Ga.

JAGUARS ALL-25:

     22. DT Gary Walker (1999-2001)

     23.  QB David Garrard (2002-10)

     24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

     25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Photo: Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars sign WR Marcus Simms

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 The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed undrafted rookie WR Marcus Simms to their 90-man roster, the club announced today. To make room on the roster, the Jaguars waived/injured rookie WR Dredrick Snelson.

Simms, 6-0, 195, attended West Virginia University and went undrafted in the supplemental draft yesterday after entering the NCAA transfer portal in April.

In 2018, Simms caught 46 passes for 699 yards and two TDs for the Mountaineers and led the team in punt returns (six returns for 58 yards) and kickoff returns (10 returns for 176 yards). During his 33-game collegiate career, Simms totaled 87 receptions for 1,457 yards (16.7 yards per catch) and eight TDs.

A native of Bowie, Md., he was a two-year starter and team captain at Sherwood High School and was a Maryland Consensus first-team All-State selection in 2015 after posting 43 receptions for 1,020 yards and 20 TDs as a senior.

 

David Garrard named no. 23 on Jaguars All-25

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Former Pro Bowl QB David Garrard has been named No. 23 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local Jacksonville media.

Garrard, 6-2, 235, was selected by the Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft (108th overall) after playing at East Carolina University. The East Orange, N.J. native played in 87 games (76 starts) for the Jaguars from 2002-10 and ranks third in franchise history for passing yards (16,003), completions (1,406) and passing TDs (89). In 2007, Garrard was the only QB in the NFL to throw at least 15 TDs (18) and less than five INTs (3). He helped the Jaguars reach the postseason in 2005 and 2007 and earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2009 season after throwing for 3,957 yards and 15 TDs.

“David looked like the new era of quarterback when he came in 2002,” said Brian Sexton, Jaguars senior correspondent and an All-25 voting member. “He was powerful. He looked like a linebacker playing quarterback with a rocket of an arm. He was one of those guys whose physical abilities were superior.”

For more information on Jaguars All-25, including stories, interviews and statistics, please visit https://www.jaguars.com/all25.

 JAGUARS ALL-25:

23. QB David Garrard (2002-10)

24. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)

25. G Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Joel Smeenge named no. 24 on Jaguars All-25

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Former Jaguars DE Joel Smeenge has been named No. 24 on the Jaguars All-25, the club announced today. Jaguars All-25 is a collection of the top 25 non-active players in franchise history, as voted on by members of the local media. The Jaguars’ silver celebration kicked off in mid-March with the start of the new league year and the unveiling of the team’s 25th season commemorative logo designed to embody the spirit of DUUUVAL.

“I wanted to reach out to the community and just say thanks for selecting me for the All-25 team,” said Smeenge. “It was an honor to have played in Jacksonville, and I really enjoyed my time there. Going into this 2019 season, I wish the team all the best. It’s time…let’s go hunt and eat, Jags!”

Smeenge, 6-6, 262, was originally selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 71st overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft. He joined the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in 1995 and led the team in sacks (4.0) and forced fumbles (four) during the franchise’s inaugural season. He quickly became a fan favorite with the crowd often chanting “SMEEEEN-GEEE” after each sack or key tackle.

Smeenge remains second in career sacks in franchise annals, totaling 34.0 sacks during his six seasons with the Jaguars. Originally from Holland, Mich., Smeenge attended Western Michigan University where he became the first player in Mid-American Conference history to be named an All-Conference selection for three straight years.

“He’s a guy that you want on your team because you know you are going to get his best week after week,” said Gene Frenette, columnist for the Florida Times-Union and member of the All-25 voting panel. “More often than not, he’s going to make a play for you.”

JAGUARS ALL-25:

  1. DE Joel Smeenge (1995-2000)
  2. OL Chris Naeole (2002-07)

Photo/courtesy: Jacksonville Jaguars