The Jaguars concluded the NFL Draft on Sunday with three selections in the final five rounds. The Jaguars had five total selections in the two-day draft, the fewest in franchise history. The Jaguars moved up via trade in the first two rounds and selected Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey and Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves. The Jaguars traded their first round pick (26th), two third round picks (71st, 89th) and a fourth round pick (125th) to Baltimore to select Harvey at eighth overall. It was the second time in franchise history and second consecutive year the Jaguars traded their original first round pick.
Groves was drafted with the 52nd overall pick in the second round as part of a trade with Tampa Bay. The Jaguars moved up by trading their second round pick (58th), fifth round pick (158th) and a 2009 seventh round pick to Tampa Bay for their second round pick (52nd). The second day of the draft consisted of rounds 3-7 and the Jaguars traded their 143rd overall pick in the fifth round to Dallas for their fifth round selection (155th), and the 213th pick in the seventh round.
Harvey, 6-5, 271, was the fourth-highest pick in franchise history and the second defensive end taken overall. Harvey was the first defensive end chosen by the Jaguars in the first round in franchise history and he became the seventh player drafted by the Jaguars from the University of Florida. He started 18 games in three seasons at Florida and recorded 20.5 sacks, 31 tackles for loss along with 90 tackles.
As a junior in 2007, Harvey started all 13 games at left defensive end and ranked fifth in the SEC with a team-leading 8.5 sacks. He also led the team with 17 tackles for loss and was named second-team All-SEC by the league's coaches. In 2006, Harvey led the team with 11 sacks and was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the BCS National Championship Game against Ohio State. He attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. and was named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.
Groves, 6-3, 259, was the sixth defensive end drafted overall in the draft and is only the second Auburn player drafted by the Jaguars (Kevin McLeod, 6th round, 1998). Groves played in 51 games with 23 starts in four seasons at Auburn. He tied the school's 22-year old career record of 26 quarterback sacks and is one of only four players in school history to record 20 or more career sacks. He finished his career with 120 tackles, 26 sacks, 36 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles and 38 quarterback pressures. As a senior, Groves started seven of 11 games and led the SEC with 23 quarterback pressures. He was an All-SEC first-team choice by the league's coaches and Associated Press in 2006. He was a four-year starter at Greenville-Weston (Miss.)High School.
USC linebacker Thomas Williams was the first of two Trojans selected by the Jaguars on the second day of the draft as he was picked 155th overall in the fifth round. Williams played in 49 games in four seasons and finished with 117 tackles (69 solo), three sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and four forced fumbles. He played all three linebacker positions and was a standout on special teams. He earned the team's Co-Special Teams Player of the Year Award as a senior. He attended Vacaville High School in California.
The Jaguars selected South Florida defensive back Trae Williams with their second fifth-round pick. Williams started 45 of 49 games in four seasons and was one of the premier coverage corners in Big East history as he ranked second in school history with 16 interceptions and he holds the school's all-time marks for interception return yards (219) and interceptions returned for touchdowns (four). Since USF joined the Big East in 2005, Williams registered 15 interceptions, ranking third in league history behind Ed Reed of Miami (21, 1998-2001) and West Virginia's Aaron Beasley (18, 1992-95). He was a two-time All-Big East selection and tied the school's single-season record with seven interceptions as a junior in 2006. He attended Durant High School in Plant City, Florida where he starred as a running back, defensive back and return specialist.
The Jaguars selected USC running back Chauncey Washington with the 213th pick in the seventh round. Washington played in 31 games with 15 starts and totaled 1,778 yards with 19 touchdowns. He earned All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention honors in 2007 as he led the team in rushing with 195 carries for 969 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished his career with four 100-yard rushing games including 220 yards rushing in 2007 at California. He was a three-year letterman at South Torrance High School in California where he also competed in track.
JAGUARS FINISH WITH FIVE DRAFT PICKS, FEWEST IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
The Jaguars concluded the 2008 NFL Draft with five draft picks, the fewest in franchise history. The Jaguars had a first round pick, a second round pick, two fifth round selections and a seventh-round pick. Four defensive players and one offensive player were selected. The smallest previous draft class was six in 2006.
JAGUARS SELECT USC PLAYERS WITH TWO OF THREE PICKS ON SUNDAY
The Jaguars picked up two former USC players on the final day of the draft. Linebacker Thomas Williams was selected with their fifth round pick while the Jaguars picked up running back Chauncey Washington with their seventh round pick. The Jaguars have selected six players from USC and it marked the first Trojans selected by the Jaguars since fullback Malaefou MacKenzie was picked in the seventh round in 2003.
DID YOU KNOW
In the last 13 years, 47 Jaguars have started at least one contest in their rookie season, including 24 games last year. Safety Reggie Nelson started 15 games in 2007 after being selected with the 21st overall pick. 2007 second round pick Justin Durant made eight starts at linebacker.
FINDING A PLAYER IN ROUNDS 4-7
There are several current Jaguars who were drafted in rounds 4-7 and have developed into major contributors on the club. David Garrard (4th round, 2002) headlines a group that includes Gerald Sensabaugh (5th round, 2005), George Wrighster (4th round, 2003), Rob Meier (7th round, 2000), Josh Scobee (5th round, 2004), Derek Landri (5th round, 2007) and Chad Nkang (7th round, 2007).
FRIENDLY ADVICE
Derrick Harvey received a call yesterday from former college teammate Reggie Nelson, the Jaguars' starting safety. Nelson had a simple message for Harvey: "Congratulations, good luck and enjoy it because when you get here, it's all hard work."
JAGUARS FIFTH ROUND PICK THOMAS WILLIAMS ON PLAYING SPECIAL TEAMS
"I love to play football no matter what it is. With special teams, you compete against almost yourself. You are competing against the other guy, but you are competing against yourself. So many people take special teams downs off just because it's kickoff, kickoff return, punt or punt return. I look at it as another opportunity for someone to see what I can do. I look at it as another opportunity to defeat my opponent."
GROVES LOOKS FORWARD TO BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL
Jaguars second round pick Quentin Groves visited Jacksonville today to meet with the local media. It didn't take long for Groves to realize how his life will change in the NFL. "It will change my life in three ways – mentally, physically and economically. I will have a few more dollars in my pocket now. Mentally, I'm a pro now. I can't do the same things I did in college and talk the same way. I can't hang out the same way I used to hang out for the simple fact I am a pro now. Physically, the game is faster and people are a lot smarter. I think those aspects are how it changes."
JAGUARS GO THE DEFENSIVE END ROUTE
The Jaguars selected defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves in the first two rounds, the second consecutive season the Jaguars have selected two defensive players in the first two rounds. It marked the first time since 1995 the Jaguars have selected players of the same position in the first two rounds. Offensive tackle Tony Boselli was the club's second overall pick in 1995 and was joined by Brian DeMarco in the second round with the 40th overall pick.
IT'S ALL IN THE LAST NAME
With the addition of Thomas Williams (5th round) and Trae Williams (5th round), the Jaguars have five players on their current roster with the last name Williams (Reggie Williams, Brian Williams, Maurice Williams).
WILLIAMS KNOWS ALL ABOUT JONES-DREW AND DE LA SALLE
Linebacker Thomas Williams played high school football at Vacaville High School in California, a short drive from De La Salle High School where Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew was a standout running back. Jones-Drew was a member of the team that extended the school's game winning streak to 138 games. Vacaville and De La Salle never met on the field, but Williams said it wouldn't have been a contest. "If we would have played them we probably wouldn't have made it past halftime."
MOVING ON UP; TRADE WITH BALTIMORE
The Jaguars moved up in the first round by trading their first round pick (26th overall), two third round picks (71st overall, 89th overall) and a fourth round pick (125th overall) to Baltimore for their first round pick (8th overall). It was the second time in franchise history and second consecutive year the Jaguars traded their original first round pick. In addition, the Jaguars moved up in the second round to select Quentin Groves. The Jaguars traded their second round pick (58th), fifth round pick (158th) and a 2009 seventh round pick to Tampa Bay for their second round pick (52nd overall)
FOURTH-HIGHEST PICK IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
The Jaguars moved up to select defensive end Derrick Harvey with the eighth overall pick, the fourth-highest draft pick in team history. Tony Boselli was selected with the second overall pick in the club's inaugural draft in 1995 and Kevin Hardy was the second pick in the 1996 draft. Byron Leftwich was the seventh pick in 2003.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA NORTH
Derrick Harvey became the seventh player drafted by the Jaguars from the University of Florida, the most from any college. Harvey joined Fred Taylor (1998, 1st round), Mike Pearson (2002, 2nd round), Chris Doering (1996, 6th round), Bobby McCray (2004, 7th round), Dee Webb (2006, 7b) and Reggie Nelson (2007, 1st round) as players drafted from Florida. The addition of Harvey gave the Jaguars five players who played collegiately at the University of Florida on their current roster (Taylor, Nelson, Mike Peterson, Jeremy Mincey), and C/G Drew Miller agreed to a free agent contract Sunday night to make it six. It marked the third consecutive year the Jaguars drafted a Florida player. Harvey is the eighth first round pick by the Jaguars from the SEC in franchise history.
HARVEY BECOMES FIRST DEFENSIVE END CHOSEN IN FIRST ROUND IN CLUB HISTORY
The selection of Derrick Harvey with the 8th pick was the first defensive end chosen by the Jaguars in the first round in franchise history. Harvey was the Jaguars' eighth defensive player chosen in the first round and fourth defensive lineman. Since Jacksonville entered the league, the Jaguars have had 16 first round selections and have drafted in the following manner:
DEFENSE (8): Defensive tackles (3), linebackers (1), cornerbacks (1), safeties (2), defensive ends (1)
OFFENSE (8): Wide receivers (3), running backs (2), offensive linemen (1), quarterbacks (1), tight ends (1)
HARVEY ONE OF THREE DEFENSIVE ENDS TAKEN IN FIRST ROUND
Derrick Harvey was one of three defensive ends taken in the first round and the second overall. St. Louis selected Chris Long with the second overall pick and Lawrence Jackson was picked 28th by Seattle. There were six defensive linemen taken in the first round, of which Harvey was the fourth.
HARVEY BECOMES 10TH UNDERCLASSMEN TAKEN BY THE JAGUARS
Derrick Harvey was the 10th underclassmen drafted by the Jaguars since juniors were formally allowed to enter the draft in 1990. The Jaguars selected two underclassmen in 2006 with RB Maurice Jones-Drew (2nd round) and Dee Webb (7th round) and Reggie Nelson in 2007 (1st round). It marks the highest drafted underclassman for the Jaguars in franchise history.
HARVEY REUNITES WITH JAGUARS DEFENSIVE LINE COACH TED MONACHINO
When Derrick Harvey hits the practice field, he will see a familiar face in Jaguars defensive line coach Ted Monachino. Monachino recruited Harvey at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland while he was the defensive line coach at Arizona State. Harvey eventually chose the University of Florida over the Sun Devils. The two reunited on March 18 this year at the Florida Pro Day in Gainesville when Monachino put Harvey through several defensive line drills. During a drill, Harvey slammed into Monachino, but the coach was able to stay on his feet. "I was doing a spin move and he said take it tight to the line. I stayed tight to the line and I guess he was on the line and I knocked him over," Harvey said.
FLORIDA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH URBAN MEYER ON DERRICK HARVEY
"I'm proud and happy for Derrick Harvey. Not only is he a great player but a great person who comes from a tremendous family. Derrick has always done things the right way both on and off the field and it has paid off for him today. Derrick is joining a terrific organization. I have been fortunate to develop a relationship with Coach Jack Del Rio and he is first class. He goes about his business the right way. I always admire coaches and organizations who are hands on when it comes to the draft and learning all they can about the player they are drafting. I talked to Coach Del Rio a number of times and most of the conversations were not about football. He wanted to know what kind of person Derrick was. That says a lot about how they run the organization. He does things the right way and so does Derrick. They are a good fit and I'm excited about having him play professionally right around the corner."
DERRICK HARVEY ON JOINING THE JAGUARS
"I am going to come in for the offseason program, work hard and get in the weight room, learn the plays, get with my defensive line coach, get with the head coach and some of the veteran players and just learn the system. Just come in and contribute. Whatever my role will be, special teams, defensive end, it doesn't matter. I am just trying to help the Jacksonville Jaguars win more games than they did last year."
GROVES IS THE SACK MASTER
Jaguars second round pick Quentin Groves tied the Auburn career record for sacks with 26. The record was first set by Gerald Robinson from 1982-85. Groves was one of just four players in Auburn history to record 20 or more sacks in a career, joining Robinson, Tracy Rocker (21, 1985-88) and Craig Ogletree (211, 1986-89).
