JACKSONVILLE – Foyesade Oluokun is ready for whatever.
And if the veteran defensive leader isn't saying exactly what "whatever" means when it comes to his position, he feels good as Jaguars 2024 Training Camp moves into its hitting days.
Oluokun, a starting inside linebacker and the Jaguars' leading tackler the past two seasons, spoke to the media following Day 6 of '24 camp Tuesday – the first day of camp to feature padded practices. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen spoke before practice, praising the professional approach of the seven-year veteran Oluokun.
Nielsen described Oluokun as "smart, tough, aggressive" and a "phenomenal-effort player."
"He's flying around as good as any player we have on our defense right now," Nielsen said. "If you just watch his body work, the way he finishes plays, he's aggressively going to get the ball, punch-outs. It's really cool to watch him because he has taken his role and kind of made it his.
"It's really cool when the ball goes to the other side and he's running 30 yards down the field to go finish on the play. That guy loves football. He has given everything he's got for this football team."
Oluokun, after playing interior linebacker and signal-caller in a 3-4-based scheme the past two seasons, said Tuesday he can play either weakside or middle in Nielsen's scheme. The Jaguars under Nielsen are expected to play a four-lineman front with multiple formations in the back seven.
"I heard people talking about that little change – MIKE, WILL and all that – and I felt like I played both positions before," he said, adding that he began his NFL career on the weakside before moving to the middle. "I'm definitely confident in either one they put me at. I want to do what's best for the team at this point in my career.
"I want to do what's best for the team because I think if we eat, everybody eats."
He added of the weakside, "It's definitely fun playing in space. I've got to get back to those movements and stuff, but I know I can excel at it."
Nielsen and Oluokun on Tuesday each discussed a strong early camp performance, with Nielsen emphasizing the need for continued improvement.
"It's a daily thing," Nielsen said. "It's a testament to the staff – really, the guys, the position coaches, they've done a great job. We spent a lot of time together. The offseason was fantastic, just how the defense was put together. We got in there and everybody had their own ideas and we built this thing where everybody had input. Everybody had buy in. Everybody does a really good job of coaching their position fundamentals and technique. And that's how the scheme really works is each individual player, each individual coach doing his job.
"Those guys were fantastic and then the players have been really receptive. We have to continue to grow."
Added Oluokun: "I'm very excited about the way the defense is shaping up if we execute our plays the way we know how. So far, we've done a good job. If everybody's doing their job, everybody's on their assignments, we play very good football. It's very cool to see.
"It's very cool to establish the fundamentals about being assignment-sound and everything. We've got so many good athletes out there flying to the ball. It's very fun when we're clicking."
NOTABLE MOMENTS FROM JAGUARS TRAINING CAMP - DAY 6
Nielsen on Tuesday praised cornerback Ronald Darby, a 10-year veteran who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in March and who Nielsen said "has been a huge help to the younger players" such as rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones and De'Antre Prince. "You see him talking to them on the side," Nielsen said. "Those guys are just soaking up all that knowledge. He's a savvy vet. He has made a lot of plays. He has been in a lot of good defenses. He understands what that's about. A lot of that is practice. He's phenomenal on the practice field. So those guys are seeing his work ethic, how he does drills and his mindset and everything. It's absolutely a huge help."
QUOTABLE MOMENTS FROM JAGUARS TRAINING CAMP - DAY 6
Nielsen: "That's a goal you have, to be a championship team and be the best team that ever was. If you strive for that, it's always consistently pushing there -- the daily push for excellence. You establish some of that mindset and culture that you want. That's what we're doing this year."
