Latest news with #TonyBoselli
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why are Jacksonville Jaguars optimistic for turnaround? New leadership, fresh perspective
Soon, the Jacksonville Jaguars will return to the gridiron, and they will do so under new leadership and a renewed focus on righting the ship that's steered off course the past two seasons. In January, Jaguars owner Shad Khan decided to part ways with both former head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke. The moves, made on separate dates, set a plan in motion to completely rewire the franchise's football division. After relieving Baalke of his duties, Khan quickly solicited Hall of Fame offensive lineman and businessman Tony Boselli to become the man in charge as the team's Vice President of Football Operations. Khan hopes that Boselli, the team's first-ever draft pick in 1995, can bring a fresh perspective and understanding of the game to revitalize a franchise desperate for good times. JAGUARS TRAINING CAMP INFO: How fans can get tickets for nine open dates Along with Boselli, the Jaguars hired a new coaching staff led by head coach Liam Coen, and have added several people to an ever-changing front office led by general manager James Gladstone. Gladstone (34 years old) and Coen (39) make up one of the youngest general manager-head coach duos in the league, but have not shown naiveté during their first few months on the job. 'When there's an opportunity to be bold, we won't flinch,' Gladstone said in April, shortly after pulling off one of the more daring trades in recent draft history to select an equally unique football player in Travis Hunter at No. 2. Is Travis Hunter a catalyst for new Jaguars era? Hunter, a do-it-all player out of Colorado, will adopt the same philosophy that he did for two years with the Buffaloes: to play both cornerback and wide receiver on a full-time basis. The Jaguars are letting him do it, too. Coen showcased his boldness during the team's offseason program, splitting Hunter's time between both sides of the ball on the field and in the classroom. Hunter is one of the only players in the league to get both an offense and defensive playbook after being drafted because he's too good, not because they don't know where to put him. The trust Coen and his staff have in Hunter isn't just through osmosis, though. The 22-year-old has given them no reason to distrust him and all the reasons to support what he wants to accomplish. His character, intelligence, physicality and know-how demand it. "You see the type of guy that he is. He's in here early, he stays late and wants to work. He loves the game. The growth will continue. I think we'll see a little bit more of a jump once we get into training camp as well,' said Coen. Hunter focused on the defensive side of the ball for at least three practices during Organized Team Activities and even played both sides (final period on defense) during the team's wrap-up practice ahead of the summer break. The 2025 second-overall pick's buzz grows by the minute, and his certain successes will be something to document moving forward. For Jacksonville, it's a bright light in a sea of darkness that could spell the end of what some believe to be a curse. When will the Jaguars report to camp? Jaguars rookies are scheduled to report on July 19 and veterans on July 22. Will Jaguars training camp be open to fans? When? Yes, the Jaguars will open training camp practices for the public. That includes a scheduled eight practices that the public can attend and one season-ticket-holder-only practice (Friday, July 25). Here are the dates that'll be open: Wednesday, July 23 Thursday, July 24 Friday, July 25 (season ticket holders only) Sunday, July 27 (NFL Back Together Sunday, with rookie poster giveaway) Monday, July 28 (first day in full pads) Tuesday, July 29 Friday, Aug. 1 (EverBank Stadium scrimmage, 7 p.m.) Sunday, Aug. 3 Tuesday, Aug. 5 Jaguars look to avoid hangover after 2024 collapse When camp officially kicks off, the franchise will look to do it without the 2024 season hanging over their heads. The amount of newness around the building ought to help, but there will be some obstacles to get over for players who've been here through the good and bad times. When asked how quickly the team flushed last season on the defensive side of the ball, Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen didn't want to speak on it. 'Next question,' he said in June before exuding praise for new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile when asked about how involved he is as a coach. 'Calais [former Jaguars DE Calais Campbell] always told me, man, if you want to be great at something, you've got to love it, you've got to respect it. For me, he gives off that. He respects the game. He loves it. He loves the team. He loves the players who are playing for him,' Hines-Allen said about of Campanile. Last year, the Jaguars finished with a 4-13 record after multiple injuries and poor play on both sides of the ball derailed the team's aspirations. Jacksonville ranked just 26th in points scored and ranked dead last in pass defense and 27th in run defense, according to Pro Football Reference. It didn't help that starting QB Trevor Lawrence missed seven games with a shoulder issue. Jacksonville added to the defense this year beyond Hunter, signing free agent defensive backs Eric Murray and Jourdan Lewis to help shore up the backend of the defense while the team added depth on the defensive line and moved Arik Armstead back to defensive tackle from defensive end, his natural position. Offensively, the Jaguars added multiple players, including Hunter and fellow receiver Dyami Brown. The franchise also worked to bolster their offensive line by signing presumed starting right guard Patrick Mekari and center Robert Hainsey. The team parted ways with veteran receiver Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram, with Brian Thomas Jr. expected to develop further, and the team's new players on offense to help pick up the slack and improve upon it. What's the biggest storyline for the Jaguars ahead of camp? There's no doubt that all eyes will be on Hunter, as they have been since he was drafted in April. Still, there's no bigger storyline in Jacksonville than the health and development of Lawrence. After missing eight games over the past two seasons combined, Lawrence's health ought to be at the forefront of everyone's mind. Will he remain healthy? How long will the team have him for? After being selected with the first-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has enjoyed an up-and-down start to his career. In his second season, he helped carry the team to a 9-8 record and a trip to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. Since then, the team has gone 13-21 with Lawrence missing nearly half a season. The team's leadership has changed, but Lawrence's health is still the priority and has been since Gladstone and Coen arrived in Jacksonville. 'I think to point back to some of the comments I made in the early going of being on the job, the idea of setting the dish in particular the internal sort of pocket, and a quarterback feeling comfortable with stepping into that, right? That's important as well. I think the moves in pro-free agency, the moves here, they all point to that,' Gladstone said in April. The team is making moves to set the dish for Lawrence, while also taking some heat off of him. Coen has often emphasized a running game and moves throughout the offseason have confirmed his commitment to it. The Jaguars signed the aforementioned linemen, while drafting two during the draft, too, including third-round pick Wyatt Milum. Jacksonville also drafted two running backs, including fourth-round selection Bhayshul Tuten, who is likely to earn playing time at some point this season. The Jaguars in 2024 ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing at 101.7 yards per game. They brought in just 13 scores on the ground, tied for 20th. Last year, as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, Coen helped the team improve its rushing attack, going from 32nd in the league in rushing in 2023 to fourth in 2024. That emphasis will be brought to Jacksonville. "That's where it starts. To go into playoff games and to go do it, you've got to be able to run the football and stop the run, first and foremost,' Coen said earlier this year. Some of what Jacksonville is doing will undoubtedly help the team's offense, but primarily it will help take some of the load off Lawrence with the plan for him to play a full season since the last time the team went to the playoffs. The road to getting there begins July 23. Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars keys for 2025 turnaround: Trevor Lawrence, Travis Hunter
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Five Jacksonville Jaguars who could surprise fans during 2025 NFL training camp
When the Jacksonville Jaguars reconvene in a few weeks for training camp, they'll do so with a clean slate. While a large portion of the team's players remain unchanged, there were wholesale changes to the franchise's front office and coaching staff after a disappointing 4-13 season in 2024. In are first-year head coach Liam Coen and his staff, alongside first-year general manager James Gladstone, in addition to first-year EVP of football operations Tony Boselli. Those changes have already made an impact. Players are positioned differently, like Arik Armstead switching from defensive end to tackle and Jarrian Jones moving to outside cornerback after playing nickel last year. ROOKIE WATCH: Why Jaguars rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten should be under spotlight during training camp The team's new schemes have opened the door for other players to earn playing time, allowing them to utilize their skillsets in the best way possible. Nothing is set in stone. The Jaguars will compete to find the best 22 players to operate as starters on both sides of the ball. While certainly, there are players who will not lose their starting role as the season draws near, there could be a few players who surprise observers as camp rolls on and rosters begin to finalize. Ahead of training camp, we took a look at five players who could surprise with their roles heading into the 2025-26 season. Montaric 'Buster' Brown, Cornerback Jaguars fourth-year cornerback Montaric Brown has been the team's spot starter over the last couple of seasons while dealing with injuries to starter Tyson Campbell. In his career, Brown has played in 37 games, starting 17. Last year, Brown earned the most playing time of his career, starting 10 games while playing in all 17. He totaled 75 tackles, six tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and one interception. Brown quickly became one of the team's best tackling defensive backs and stands to play better in a zone-based scheme deployed by Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. During the offseason program, Brown stood out as one of the most technically sound players. While Brown may not start opposite Campbell due to the addition of cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, he stands to play a large role in this upcoming season. Andrew Wingard, Safety Similar to Brown, Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard has operated as a starter, spot starter and depth player for the franchise since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Wingard has played in 86 games (28 starts), including seven starts over the last three years. In 2021, Wingard started 15 games, the most he's started in a single season in his career. Over his six-year career, Wingard has accounted for 265 tackles (184 solos), eight tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, 13 pass breakups and five interceptions. While many assume third-round pick Caleb Ransaw or veteran Darnell Savage will start opposite free-agent signee S Eric Murray, Wingard's pole position shouldn't be ignored. The team utilized multiple safeties during the offseason program with Wingard drawing a significant number of starting reps throughout the process. After nearly earning the starting role last season before a near-season-ending knee injury, Wingard is in a position for significant playing time heading into his seventh season with the team. Parker Washington, Wide receiver While the team's receiving corps will be under an intense spotlight with the additions of Hunter and veteran Dyami Brown, third-year receiver Parker Washington could get overlooked, but shouldn't. Washington enjoyed a solid season last year after earning seven starts due to various injuries and changes to the team's receiving corps. He played in 17 games, starting seven. Washington caught 32 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Due to Hunter's persistence and the team's willingness to utilize the second-overall pick on both sides of the ball, Washington's playing time could take a significant rise this season. Washington can play inside as the team's slot receiver, given his stature and playing style. Though he didn't quite stand out during the offseason program, his skillset and status with the team should put him under a spotlight during camp. Maason Smith, Defensive tackle Jaguars second-year defensive tackle Maason Smith is expected to make a big jump this season. After an up-and-down rookie campaign, the former second-round pick looks to make a major leap. Smith has already received a good review from head coach Liam Coen. 'He's a big one for us. We need him to take a huge step this year. I think he's done a great job when you talk about the offseason program, and the weight room, and the conditioning," Coen said in June. "His mentality with the work ethic, and then coming out here and making it hard. Ultimately, when you're 325 pounds and you can move, and you've got long arms, man. He's got the want-to. I've seen that so far." Smith joined Jacksonville out of LSU last season as a raw, but incredibly big and athletic defensive tackle. He started five games, playing in 11 and totaled 17 tackles and three sacks, most of which came during the latter portion of the season, showcasing his growth. Smith won't necessarily receive all the starting snaps inside, but his role ought to evolve and he could become a mainstay by season's end. Brenton Strange, Tight end After the team cut tight end Evan Engram for salary cap purposes, the question of who could replace his production was asked with third-year TE Brenton Strange entering the forefront of everyone's minds. Strange enjoyed a breakout campaign last season after catching just five passes on nine targets during his rookie season (14 games, four starts). Last year, Streange caught 40 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns on 53 targets with 17 games played and 10 starts. Strange's impact rose due to an injury that sidelined Engram for several weeks throughout the year and ultimately the season. Strange received praise from Coen in June, noting that the third-year tight end has been a good test for the team's defense and Campanile. Coen also noted later that he believes Strange is ready to "take a step" beyond the step he took last season. 'He's another one that just works his tail off every day. If you were to ask Campy [Anthony Campanile], one of the guys that he really has a lot of appreciation for, specifically, obviously, as a defensive coordinator is Brenton Strange," Coen said. "Just the way that he practices, when he does get his hands on you when he is blocking, he's physical, he's violent, he has some explosive movements. He's got strong hands. So, I've been really pleased with Brenton." Strange will be a player to watch during camp as he looks to make a name for himself in Jacksonville as a mainstay. Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: These Jacksonville Jaguars could shock fans in 2025 NFL training camp
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fan guide to Jacksonville Jaguars training camp, preseason: What you need to know
Training camp is officially here for the Jacksonville Jaguars, with players hitting the grass early Wednesday morning to begin what is expected to be a resurgence season for the local team. Jaguars rookies reported to camp Saturday, July 19, with veterans reporting Tuesday, July 22. The Jaguars will enter this year's camp with a lot of new faces, particularly on the coaching staff. Jaguars owner Shad Khan decided this year to move on from former head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, moving forward with a youth movement centered around general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen. Both Gladstone and Coen are under 40 years old to start camp. NEW: Jacksonville Jaguars rookies report for training camp. What to watch from Travis Hunter, others The franchise also changed directions as far as the team's organizational structure is concerned, hiring Hall of Fame offensive lineman Tony Boselli as the team's EVP of Football Operations. Boselli was the team's first draft choice after becoming an expansion franchise ahead of the 1995 season. With that said, Jaguars fans will get several opportunities to see the new team during camp this summer. Many tickets are still available for several dates, including the team's first practice on Wednesday. Ahead of camp starting on Wednesday, the Jaguars announced that linebacker Dennis Gardeck will begin training camp on the team's active/Physically Unable to Perform list. Gardeck will not be eligible to practice until he is removed from the list. Here are the details: Where is Jaguars training camp held? Jaguars training camp is held at the Miller Electric Center at 1 Performance Place in Jacksonville. Which Jaguars practices are open to the general public? The Jaguars will open eight practices to the public, with one event being held especially for season ticket holders. According to as of July 22, two dates have been sold out. That includes July 27th and Aug. 3. Both days feature events, including the NFL Back Together Sunday event on the 27th and Military Appreciation on Sunday, Aug. 3. Wednesday, July 23 Thursday, July 24 Friday, July 25 (season ticket holders only) Sunday, July 27 (NFL Back Together Sunday, with rookie poster giveaway) Monday, July 28 (first day in full pads) Tuesday, July 29 Friday, Aug. 1 (EverBank Stadium scrimmage, 7 p.m.) Sunday, Aug. 3 Tuesday, Aug. 5 Jaguars training camp bag policy The Jaguars will utilize the NFL Stadium Game Day Clear Bag Policy during training camp. According to the Jaguars, clear bags "no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" and non-clear clutches/wallets must be no larger than 4.5" x 6.5 inches." Exceptions are limited to diaper bags or those made for medically necessary items after inspection. Prohibited items listed by the Jaguars: Cameras with detachable lenses or lenses longer than six inches, clothing with profane or obscene language/content, coolers or containers, bottles and verages outside the stadium except one factory sealed plastic bottle of water 16.9 oz or less per ticket holder, drones, and more. Jaguars parking for training camp Free parking will be available to fans for training camp. Fans are permitted to park in Lots J, Z and Lot P North. For the Stadium Scrimmage inside EverBank Stadium on Friday, Aug. 1, free parking will be available in Lots B, C, D, E, J, S and X. Do the Jaguars have joint practices in 2025 training camp? Yes, the Jaguars will have one joint practice this training camp. They are scheduled to practice with the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens ahead of the team's preseason Week 3 matchup on Saturday, Aug. 23. Officially, the Jaguars and the Dolphins will take to the practice field together on Thursday, Aug. 21 at the Baptist Health Training Complex in South Florida. Who do the Jaguars play in preseason 2025? The Jaguars will play three games before the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7. Preseason Week 1: Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7:00 p.m. (FOX30) Preseason Week 2: Jaguars at New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 1:00 p.m. (CBS47) Preseason Week 3: Jaguars at Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7:00 p.m. (FOX30) Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars training camp fan guide: Tickets, parking, more
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WATCH Action Sports Jax's Storytellers of the 904: Jaguars Hall of Famer and EVP Tony Boselli
Storytellers of the 904 debuts with one of the best stories our area has ever seen -- Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli. Boselli lived up to the hype as the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-ever draft pick and the face of the franchise. Advertisement Some 30 years later, he's still one of the faces of the franchise and now leading the charge of a new regime as Executive Vice President of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The story of Boselli is well-documented, but we dive deeper into some of the lesser-known stories of Boselli's journey. Tony discusses the initial draft process, why he was mad at the Jaguars for a handful of years, and why he came back to Jacksonville. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Boselli also shares how people doubt him because he's a former football player and how close he got to going into coaching a few years ago. Advertisement This episode has a few discussions about Boselli being the EVP of the Jaguars. Instead, it's about his 30-year Jacksonville journey to land in the position he now has inside Jaguars headquarters. You can watch the full episode in the video player above. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Click here to download the free Action News Jax apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action Sports Jax 24/7 live.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Tony Boselli in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 71 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take a look at Hall of Fame offensive lineman Tony Boselli. Position: Offensive line Years played at USC: 1991-1994 Career highlights: Boselli was a dominant force at offensive tackle for the Trojans during the early 1990s. In his four-year USC career, Boselli earned first-team All-American honors twice and first-team All-Pac-10 three times. As a senior in 1994, he won the Morris Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Pac-10 Conference. After USC: The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Boselli with the second overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was the first draft pick in the expansion franchise's history. Boselli's professional career was not super long, but boy was it dominant. Despite playing just seven seasons in the league—six with Jacksonville and one with the Houston Texans—Boselli made five Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times. Boselli was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Earlier this year, he was named the Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations.
