JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –Former Jaguars RB Fred Taylor, WR Jimmy Smithand LT Tony Bosellihave been named nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018, the organization announced Tuesday. The Modern-Era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2018 is comprised of 108 players and coaches, including 11 first-year eligible players.
The Modern-Era nominees will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November. Eighteen finalists will then be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual selection meetings on "Selection Saturday," the day before Super Bowl LII.
Boselli, the franchise's first-ever college draft choice, was the first member of the Jaguars to be honored in The Pride of the Jaguars on Oct. 8, 2006. Boselli was the second player drafted overall in the 1995 NFL Draft following an All-American career at Southern California. He started a then-team-record 90 of the 91 Jaguars games in which he played from 1995-2001 and was named to the Pro Bowl five times. Widely considered the best offensive tackle in the game, Boselli allowed only 15.5 sacks in seven seasons and was named second team on the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1990s. Boselli was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
Taylor became the fourth inductee into the Pride of the Jaguars on Sept. 30, 2012. Taylor, who started 136 of 140 games, is one of five players along with Brad Meester, Marcedes Lewis, Jimmy Smith and Josh Scobee to play for 11 or more seasons with the Jaguars. Taylor ranks fourth in franchise history in scoring with 424 points (70 TDs, two two-point conversions) and broke the rookie scoring record with 102 points (17 TDs) in 1998. He continues to be the only Jaguars rookie to rush for 1,000 yards (1,223). Taylor, the Jaguars' career rushing leader with 11,271 yards, holds seven of the top 10 single-season rushing totals in team history, with a team-record 1,572 yards on 345 carries during the 2003 season. The former Florida Gator rushed for 100-plus yards on 48 occasions, a team record.
Smith became the newest Pride inductee on Dec. 11, 2016. A five-time Pro Bowl performer, Smith was instrumental to the Jaguars' early success when the team earned four straight playoff appearances from 1996-99 and played in eight postseason games, including two AFC Championships. He was the Jaguars' leading receiver seven times and was voted to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years from 1997-2001. His career totals include 862 receptions for 12,287 yards and 67 TDs in 13 seasons, 11 of which were played with the Jaguars.
