Latest news with #AnthonyCampanile
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jacksonville Jaguars rookies report training camp? What to watch from Travis Hunter, others
The 2025 NFL season is around the corner and it is officially 47 days away from the season opener. The Jacksonville Jaguars are back for their 31st season in the NFL as they enter a new era. Head coach Liam Coen joins the Jaguars after a year in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Coen coached a top-five offense in the NFL last year and beings his talents to Duval to improve the 25th ranked offense in 2024. Alongside Coen is new offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Udinski joined Jacksonville after his stint as an assistant offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings while Campanile arrives from the linebacker coach position in Green Bay. Although coaching has made some changes, the biggest addition to the Jaguars family is Travis Hunter, the second pick in the draft after trading up with the Cleveland Browns. He is coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning season with the Colorado Buffalos after helping his team achieve a 9-4 record, their best result since 2016. HOW IT STARTED? Travis Hunter story goes all the way back to grandmother living in Palm Beach labor camp Hunter is a unique prospect where he is committed to playing both sides of the football in the NFL. He played those roles full time in Deion Sanders' team and his athletic ability gives him a chance at achieving that. Udinski and Campanile both will be tasked with handling Hunter correctly to develop him and not hinder who is known as a generational athlete. Coen, Udinski and Campanile will engage with Hunter and the rest of their rookie class as the Jaguars' training camp begins July 19. They will report to the Miller Electric Center on Saturday for their first day of NFL training camp. The rookies will be joined by the rest of the team on July 22 before the doors of Miller Electric Center is open to the public. With an abundance of new rookies joining the team, who are ones that will catch the eyes of the fans? Here are some rookies to keep a look out for: Jacksonville Jaguars 2025 NFL draft class The Jaguars grabbed the Heisman winner with the second pick but they picked up depth in numerous positions, including two running backs. Round 1 (No. 2 overall) - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado Round 3 (88) - Caleb Ransaw, DB, Tulane Round 3 (89) - Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia Round 4 (104) - Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech Round 4 (107) - Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame Round 6 (194) - Jalen McLeod, EDGE, Auburn Round 6 (200) - Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy Round 7 (221) - Jonah Monheim, OL, USC Round 7 (236) - LeQuint Allen Jr., RB, Syracuse Who to watch for? Travis Hunter Hunter accumulated 96 receptions, 1258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball last season. Defensively he caught 4 passes for interceptions and 36 tackles. He led the Big 12 in receptions and touchdowns while guarding the other team's best player every game. He did not test at the NFL Combine but his play showcases breakaway speed. At 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, he has the size and speed to guard shorter receivers/running backs and the height to not get bullied by taller guys. Watching Hunter in college, you can see the all-around elusiveness and athleticism he possesses. The ability to meet the ball at its height point to either bring it down or swipe it away is critical in redzone situations. The creativity in the open field to find ways to make big plays is another major factor in his game. His play at receiver allows him to read his opponent where he can run a route for them or jump it for an interception. The Florida native has the skills to play both sides of the ball and his progression will be key for the Jaguars' future. Caleb Ransaw Caleb Ransaw played three years at Troy before moving to Tulane for his senior year. The 5-11, 197-pound defensive back played as a nickelback or slot corner in Tulane's 4-2-5 defense. This allowed Ransaw to use his speed and strength to throw off receivers that were within his zone. He is big for the slot corner position so his assistance in run defense was key. He would redirect many receivers that crossed his line of vision and made quick work of anything that came 7 yards or fewer from the line of scrimmage. Ransaw clocked in at 4.33 seconds for his 40-yard dash, which showcases his top-end speed. He is not some that receivers can blow by easily. Where Ransaw struggles is his coverage ability. Playing against NFL slot receivers could be tricky for him because of their shiftiness and quick release off the line. Ransaw's zone coverage ability is fine but man to man is where he could struggle. It is presumed that the Jaguars drafted Ransaw to play safety so he can utilize his athletic ability while also having opportunities to contribute to the run defense. Wyatt Milum Wyatt Milum was drafted immediately after Ransaw with the 25th pick in the third round. His selection was an indicator of wanting the protection of Trevor Lawrence and Milum is just the player for it. Standing at 6-6 and 313 pounds, Milum is a big guy that started at left tackle for his senior season at West Virginia. His production earned him Big 12 Player of the Year. Milum's drop on the draft board was due to his arm's length. With 32⅛-inch arms, Milum is in the ninth percentile for offensive tackles. He played great at West Virginia but in the NFL, teams want their tackles to have long arms to fight off speed rushers. With his build, Milum could slide to offensive guard. Jacksonville Jaguars training camp open dates at Miller Electric Center For practices open to the public, parking lots open at 7 a.m., gates open at 7:45 a.m. and practice is expected to start at 8:30 a.m. Open practice dates include: Wednesday, July 23 Thursday, July 24 Friday, July 25 – Exclusive Season Ticket Member day Sunday, July 27 – NFL Back Together Sunday with Rookie poster giveaway Monday, July 28 – First day of full pads Tuesday, July 29 Sunday, Aug. 3 Tuesday, Aug. 5 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Travis Hunter, other Jacksonville Jaguars rookies reach training camp
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Jacksonville Jaguars' roster preview: CB Montaric Brown
With offseason programs now behind us, we will be getting a jump start on our training camp preview by going player-by-player through the Jacksonville Jaguars' 91-man roster. Going alphabetically, up is cornerback Montaric Brown. Advertisement Montaric Brown's profile Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Age: 25 NFL experience: 3 seasons College: Arkansas No. 30 2024 Snap count totals Defense: 855 Special teams: 149 2024 PFF grades Defense: 62.2 Special teams: 51.2 2024 Season Review Brown appeared in all 17 games defensively last season, which included making 10 starts. While he allowed a completion rate of 70%, Brown did hold opponents to just 11.3 yards per catch, limiting YAC with his steady tackling abilities. He also had one interception and five pass breakups. Looking ahead to the 2025 season Brown is competing with Jarrian Jones and Travis Hunter for the starting outside cornerback role opposite of Tyson Campbell. From the sounds of it, Brown has the early advantage in this battle, with ESPN's Michael DiRocco reporting that he was working with the first team defense throughout OTAs and minicamp. Advertisement In Anthony Campanile's vision-based and zone-heavy defensive scheme, there were a number of practices where we heard about Brown getting his hands on the ball while in coverage. By all accounts, Brown has acclimated himself well so far to this new system. "That's who he's been every day that I've been here," Anthony Campanile said of Brown's ball production. "And I can only go by what I see every day that I'm out here, he competes. He loves to compete. "Same thing like Tyson, whether it's on the line of scrimmage, he's not afraid to challenge people. To challenge people at the top of the route and play with technique, but whatever he's gotta do to strain and make the play, he's been doing that, which is awesome. That's what we've been preaching and he's doing that every day." This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Previewing Jaguars' 2025 roster: A closer look at CB Montaric Brown
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jaguars' Players Have "Totally Fallen" for DC Anthony Campanile
Jaguars' Players Have "Totally Fallen" for DC Anthony Campanile originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If nothing else, Jacksonville Jaguars Senior Defensive Assistant Bill Sheridan knows football -- between various NCAA Division 1 and professional stops, he's been coaching the sport in some form or fashion for four decades now. Advertisement In a recent interview during offseason workouts, Sheridan tackled the subject of Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile, who will be handling coordinator duties for the first time at the NFL level under incoming head coach Liam Coen. "I think -- I don't want to speak for the players. I think our players have totally fallen for Anthony Campanile. And honestly, they should. That's my take on the time I've been here," Sheridan said. Green Bay Packers linebackers coach Anthony Campanile watches players run through a drill on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Campanile and Sheridan worked together previously in 2018 underneath Steve Addazio's staff at Boston College, where Campanile was co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach and Sheridan was the Linebackers coach. And now that they're together again, Sheridan is singing his coordinator's praises to all who will listen. Advertisement "He's got a whole litany of qualities as a human being, number one, and definitely for what you're looking for in a football coach. From work ethic to intelligence to passion," Sheridan said. "He's, you know, he's very demanding on the players but very uplifting. You know he's not a nagging, negative guy at all, but he can get wound up and the players recognize just tells the players what we need. And when he tells them, he's very passionate about it and they understand that and recognize it." Campanile's high football IQ and firm, intense approach to coaching the defense is exactly what the Jaguars will need this season as they look to revamp what was one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2024 -- they were 31st in yards per game allowed and 28th in points per game allowed. Advertisement And according to Sheridan, the players within the organization have been receptive to Campanile's leadership, saying there's been "no pushback." But don't just take Sheridan's word for it -- it's something that was echoed by Jacksonville defensive end Josh Hines-Allen during a separate interview. "Coach Camp has been awesome this whole time. He's never changed. I know everybody says the mentality, the personality, the person that he is, he's a lot. But it's nice," Hines-Allen said. Related: Travis Hunter Earns Comparison to Former Jaguars' Pro Bowler Related: Jaguars' Rookie Wyatt Milum Could Be Answer to Offensive Line Struggles Related: Pressure Mounts on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence Ahead of Critical Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile on Travis Hunter's progress at CB: 'It's impressive to watch'
Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile on Travis Hunter's progress at CB: 'It's impressive to watch' Jaguars' DC Anthony Campanile discussed Travis Hunter's progress at CB following Wednesday's practice. As offseason programs have progressed, Jacksonville Jaguars' second overall pick, Travis Hunter, continues to see his workload on defense during practice increase. As defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile described after Wednesday's practice, helping Hunter learn two playbooks, the terminology on both sides of the ball, and play two positions is how quickly he picks up everything thrown at him. "He just has a wealth of talent, and he's a super intelligent guy, which makes it super fun," Campanile said. "He's really quick on the uptake. So he's a fun guy to coach, to be around. I know his position coaches love coaching him, and it's pretty impressive to watch a guy do that." The majority of Hunter's playing time on the practice field has come at wide receiver, which was the plan that Liam Coen and James Gladstone laid out following the NFL draft. But since arriving in Jacksonville, Hunter has been learning the defensive playbook, terminology, and in the meeting rooms. Also a wide receiver, Hunter brings impressive ball skills to the cornerback position for Jacksonville. During his Heisman season in 2024 at Colorado, Hunter forced four interceptions and seven pass breakups on only 41 targets, according to PFF. "It's cool. It's been really fun," Campanile said of having Hunter on defense. "But I also think the coaches, coach Milus, Drew Lascari, Anthony Perkins, Bill Sheridan, those guys have done a great job of just getting him up to speed on everything, and he's done a great job responding to it." Where exactly Hunter fits into the cornerback rotation remains to be seen--we are still very early on in this process. But he could potentially see his playing time come during obvious passing situations, where his ball-hawking abilities can be on full display. So far, Hunter has either practiced on offense or defense, depending on the day--not both at the same time. However, as Coen mentioned earlier in the week, that will change once training camp arrives. "I think it really takes a sharp person to do that," Campanile said of Hunter picking up everything so quickly. "He's just blessed with a lot of intelligence and maturity. It is, it's impressive to watch, for sure."
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter spends extra time with Jaguars' defensive coaches
Anthony Campanile isn't new to sharing players. The first-year defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars cited his time coaching on the high school and collegiate level, as well as the pros, when asked about having to share rookie Travis Hunter. Advertisement The Jaguars are planning to play him on both sides of the ball and head coach Liam Coen revealed Hunter practiced with Jacksonville's defense for the first time during the third organized team activity. However, he was back practicing with the offense during OTA No. 4—where he's spent most of his on-field time since being drafted. Jaguars OTAs observations: With no Travis Etienne, can running game survive? 'He's a special guy because he's really, really a bright guy," Campanile told reporters after the conclusion of the practice. "I know you guys have gotten the opportunity to meet him. All the coaches, everybody's been really impressed with his ability to retain the information.' Advertisement According to Coen, the day spent with Jacksonville's defense wasn't to gauge his defensive skills, or his 11-on-11 capabilities or anything like that. It was for teaching him the basics of Campanile's defense and allowing him the opportunity to show what he's learned in the classroom, on the field. Travis Hunter spends extra time meeting with Jaguars' defensive coaches Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) walks to his lane during the first organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Monday, May 19, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. Though Hunter hasn't practiced with the defense during an open to media practice, he's spending time behind-the-scenes in the classroom and in meetings with the defense. Hunter is doing something no other NFL player currently is: He's learning two playbooks at once. Advertisement It's a difficult task, but his coaches have credited him for putting in the proper effort needed to be successful. 'He's done a great job with that,' Campanile said. 'I can't imagine another guy being any better suited to handle that. Travis is certainly suited to do that.' Hunter has seen success at every level while starring on both sides of the ball. In high school, he was the highest ranked player in his college, he won the Heisman and a host of other awards on both sides of the ball. Now, he'll try to find that same level of success on a professional level. "He's done a great job with [Secondary Coach Ron Milus] and [Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Drew Lascari], a couple of the other coaches on staff, just spending time," Campanile said. "He's doing extra every day, so I have a ton of respect for everything he's done to this point.' How much Hunter will actually play on defense will remain to be seen. But the Jaguars have a plan. Advertisement And they're executing it at their own pace. "It's been going very well to this point," Campanile said. "We're excited to keep [the plan] moving throughout the course of the preseason and regular season.' This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Travis Hunter has spent extra time with Jaguars' defensive coaches
