The Jacksonville Jaguars today signed safety Donovin Darius to a contract. Length and terms of the contract are undisclosed. The Jaguars are the 14th team to sign all of their draft picks, but they had the most draft picks in the NFL this year with 11.
Darius, the 25th selection in the first round of the 1998 draft, is the last of the Jaguars' 11 draft picks to sign a contract. He is the 16th of the 30 first-round draft picks to have signed a contract. Darius, 22, is a 6-1, 220-pounder from Syracuse. The highest-drafted defensive back in Jaguars history, he was the sixth defensive back drafted this year.
"The business side sometimes takes a little longer than expected, but thank God everything turned out all right," said Darius. "I'm excited, but it's a great relief. I have goals for myself, and they all started today. But tomorrow's another day. I have prepared myself for this moment and the days to come."
JAGUARS ROOKIES REPORT
All 24 rookies on the 1998 Jaguars reported today and participated in the conditioning drills, including running two sets of six 50-yard sprints.
"I thought they did a pretty good job," said Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin. "They had taken to heed the warning about staying in shape and being ready to go once they got back here. They really stayed in shape, especially the bigger guys.
"The message I just left them with was about competition," Coughlin added. "They have to compete for a job. We can be a really good football team if we get the competition."
The team's veterans will report on Friday, and the first practice will be at 3:20 at Ferrell Fields, adjacent to ALLTEL Stadium. Training camp is open to the public for viewing practice sessions through Monday, August 17, which will be the final day of two-a-day practice sessions. There is no admission charge for training camp. Parking will be available in the parking lots on the East side of the stadium.
Beginning Friday, fans may call the Jaguars Fans Training Camp Hotline for a recorded message which gives the daily practice schedule. The phone number is (904) 633-6525. The message will be updated daily.
