Shaquille Quarterman says Myles Jack has been a mentor to him

Shaq Quarterman said that Jack has been his go-to player for advice since the Jags drafted him.

Linebacker Shaquill Quarterman has been one of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ standouts during the preseason. As a rookie in 2020, he appeared in 12 games but he didn’t make much of an impact, totaling just six tackles.

But the new coaching staff has clearly been pleased with his progress this offseason. His play during camp was one of the primary reasons the team felt comfortable trading linebacker Joe Schobert, and now Quarterman is likely to see a much bigger role than he did in 2020.

Quarterman said that one of the guys he’ll be playing behind, star linebacker Myles Jack, has been helpful during his development. He said that Jack has been like a mentor to him since he joined his hometown team. Quarterman is an Orange Park native and graduate of Oakleaf High School.

“Myles [Jack] has been a very big help in my process and becoming a Jaguar,” Quarterman said. “He’s the first person I go to for any type of advice since I got the call that I was coming back home. He is really showing me how things are done as a pro, and I really appreciate that. I’ve gotten a chance to hang out with Myles, get to know him outside of just the building, and I really do appreciate him as a savvy vet taking me underneath his wing.”

For his part, Jack is just following the blueprint that was set for him. According to Quarterman, longtime Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny played the same role with Jack when he was coming into the league.

“He’s definitely mentioned how Poz used to run things and the things that he’s been able to learn from him,” Quarterman said. “The big brother program, he’s really seeing how it’s affected him and his transition into the league and him just becoming who he’s been and being a great linebacker. So, him seeing that in me and trying to teach me the same things, it means a lot.”

Quarterman totaled 14 tackles in the preseason, and he will likely be the first linebacker off the bench to spell starters Jack and Damien Wilson. The former fifth-round pick out of Miami is expected to do big things in an increased role in 2021.

Joe Cullen praises Shaq Quarterman following LB Joe Schobert trade

It sounds like the Jags’ staff like what they’ve seen out of Jacksonville native, Shaq Quarterman, in training camp. He may even be a name to watch for a starting role.

Jacksonville made a potentially risky decision during the preseason when it traded projected starting middle linebacker Joe Schobert to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick. The return for a starting-caliber player wasn’t great, but it allowed the Jaguars to ditch a pricey deal on a player that the coaching staff didn’t think was a great fit in the defensive scheme.

Without him, Jacksonville will largely turn to Damien Wilson, a free-agent acquisition who started for Kansas City last season, and Shaq Quarterman, a second-year player who appeared in 12 games last season but had a limited impact, totaling only six tackles.

Defensive coordinator Joe Cullen had positive things to say about the play of both in the preseason opener against Cleveland.

“Well, we have got Damien [Wilson] who’s been a two-year starter with Kansas City at MIKE linebacker,” Cullen said. “And then we drafted Shaq [Shaquille Quarterman] a year ago and there wasn’t much tape to evaluate him other than college, he didn’t play much. But the thing that we saw from him and the thing that we some from those young linebackers is speed, downhill thump in terms of knocking the run out. Damien, that’s his strength. And you know, obviously, it was a decision, we moved forward and [we wish] the best for both the organization and Joe, he’s going to Pittsburgh. So, I think when you saw 50 the other night, [Shaquille Quarterman], he was flying around hitting people.”

Quarterman’s impact was indeed noticeable against the Browns, as he finished tied for second on the team in tackles with four. It has been expected that Damien Wilson, who is considered a better fit than Schobert in Cullen’s defense given his run-stopping ability, would win the starting job, but Quarterman may not go away quietly.

Cullen even said his previous team, Baltimore, considered selecting him in the 2020 class.

“Well, we looked at [Quarterman] when we were in Baltimore and we liked him in Baltimore and [we] just like his plus-two mentality, his physicality, and he’s got one speed and that’s a plus-two, 100 miles an hour,” Cullen said.

The battle for the starting inside linebacker job next to Myles Jack will likely continue on throughout the preseason and possibly into the regular season, but it seems the Jacksonville staff is pleased with the talent at the position even after trading away a projected starter.

Jags designate LB Shaq Quarterman, DT Abry Jones to return from injured reserve

The Jags could have their most experienced defensive lineman back from injury soon in DT Abry Jones.

While they are dealing with several defensive injuries that occurred against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be on their way to getting back two players who could make an impact. On Wednesday, the team announced that defensive tackle Abry Jones (ankle) and linebacker Shaq Quarterman (knee) were designated to return from injured reserve.

With the Jags limping into Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns and being without a few defensive coaches, any help is welcomed at this point. The Jags now have 21 days to activate both or either player to the active roster.

Jones, who is the Jaguars’ most experienced lineman, went on IR on Oct. 22 before the Jags’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had started in the five games prior and accumulated eight total tackles, four of which were solo.

Quarterman went on IR on Nov. 7 before the Jags’ second game against the Houston Texans. He didn’t see the field for any snaps on defense but participated in 45% of the Jags’ special teams snaps up until Week 5.

First-round rookie Davon Hamilton took over as starter for Jones and the Jags might elect to keep it that way so the veteran can ease his way back into things. As for Quarterman, his return will more so help the special teams unit, though he could see snaps on defense if the Jags keep enduring injuries.

Joe Schobert says Jaguars’ young LBs are coming along better than expected

Joe Schobert, a leader of the Jags’ locker room, talked about being impressed with the Jags’ young linebacking core early in camp.

When looking at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster, most would agree that linebacker is a strength of the team. After a 2019 season where the group exited as a weakness of the roster, the Jags front office came into the offseason looking to strengthen the unit, and in the early stages of camp, it appears they may have succeeded.

They started off things by adding veteran Joe Schobert to man the MIKE linebacker position and move Myles Jack where he’s more comfortable: on the weak-side. That killed two birds with one stone, giving the Jags one of the league’s better linebacker duos on paper.

Afterward, they spent a first-round pick on K’Lavon Chaisson in the draft, who will be a part-time linebacker and will battle to start on the strong-side. They also drafted Jacksonville native, Shaq Quarterman, in the fourth-round and added a leader from Central Florida’s defense, Nate Evans, in undrafted free-agency.

When combining those moves with what they already had, the Jags seemingly compiled a young deep group that can spearhead the team into new heights. This was something the group’s leader, Schobert, spoke on in Tuesday’s meeting with the media, stating that he’s been impressed with how quickly the players behind him are picking up things.

That certainly should be music to the ears of fans as the Jags will have to start 2020 off strong. The front half of the schedule is going to be the weakest, and if the Jags don’t take advantage of it, their season will pretty much be a wrap.

Fans will get to see what Schobert and company are made of right out of the gate with the Indianapolis Colts coming into town Week 1. The group should expect a big-time challenge from Philip Rivers through the air and tailbacks Marlon Mack and Johnathan Taylor on the ground. However, if the Jags win, the linebackers will play a significant role in a victory, which would be huge for the team’s momentum out of the gate.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

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Jags come to terms with fourth-round selection Shaquille Quarterman

The Jags have locked up their first pick from the 2020 NFL Draft in LB Shaq Quarterman, who is a native of Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected 12 rookies in the 2020 NFL Draft and have now inked their first member from the group. Per sports agent Drew Rosenhaus, the Jags came to terms with fourth-round linebacker and Jacksonville native, Shaquille Quarterman.

The Jags selected Quarterman out of Miami with the No. 140 overall selection and he was one of three fourth-round picks they made alongside St. John offensive lineman Ben Bartch and Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott, both of whom were taken before Quarterman.

Quarterman is coming off a 2019 season in which he garnered first-team All-ACC honors as a senior after racking up 107 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one sack. He proved to be an ironman, starting in all 52 games he was there, which was a school record for consecutive starts.

He’ll now join a linebacker group that’s spearheaded by Myles Jack, Joe Schobert, both of whom will be great examples for him to learn from. He also should see a lot of time on the field for special teams where his hard-hitting ability could maybe cause some turnovers.

Per Over the Cap, Quarterman’s projected salary for 2020 will be around $610K and the total value of the contract is estimated to be over $3.7 million. His signing bonus will total out to be $494K which will be distributed evenly over four years.

Shaq Quarterman discusses the surreal feeling of playing for his hometown team

The Jacksonville Jaguars had quite a productive weekend after they utilized all 12 of their 2020 NFL Draft selections and will look to build a new nucleus after dismantling their roster to reallocate their salary situation. Amongst the picks made …

The Jacksonville Jaguars had quite a productive weekend after they utilized all 12 of their 2020 NFL Draft selections and will look to build a new nucleus after dismantling their roster to reallocate their salary situation. Amongst the picks made was that of Jacksonville native Shaq Quarterman, whose dream came true the moment he picked up Saturday’s call from general manager Dave Caldwell.

After things settled down in the Quarterman household, Shaq took some time out to discuss the grand opportunity ahead of him and explained just how much of an honor it was to play for his hometown team.

“It’s an awesome blessing to play for any team in a National Football League, but being able to stay home is just a different feeling. It’s a very different feeling” Quarterman said. “I’m just so happy that I had the opportunity to do it because, to be honest, most people don’t get the chance to do that. Repping the brand has always been a thing for me, especially Jacksonville with that 904. I’ve been throwing my fours up since I got to college. So I’m excited.”

Quarterman was a super-productive leader for the Hurricane’s defense, taking the field dating back to his time as a freshman. In fact, he proved to be an ironman for them, playing in every game of his four years there. By the time he wrapped up his college career in Miami, he totaled a whopping 356 tackles (46.5 of which were for loss) and 12 sacks.

When considering his stat-line, leadership skills, and the Jags’ struggles to stop the run, the pairing makes a ton of sense. Sure, with Myles Jack and Joe Schobert holding down things within the linebacking group, Quarterman won’t be asked to do a lot immediately, but if brought along properly, he can be a big-time contributor on defense. He also could be a great asset as a reserve in 2020 as Jack battled injuries in 2019 and was placed on injured reserve (knee).

Of course, Quarterman should also get a lot of snaps on special teams and it should be fun to watch him lay some bone-chilling hits for Joe DeCamillis’ group. Regardless of where it is that he’s making an impact though, fans will be certainly rooting for him this summer and fall as he looks to start making his imprint and stick around as a hometown favorite.

What the nation’s top analysts said about the 2020 Jaguars’ draft class

For the most part it looks like the nation’s journalists like what the Jags did in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books and it certainly has been one for the ages.

This year provided an interesting spin on the draft. Due to the social distancing guidelines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft was done virtually with the coaches and player personnel of all 32 teams making their selections from their respective homes. Once the picks were in NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell would then read them off from his home and the rest is history.

The new format didn’t deter viewers as the 2020 NFL Draft would go on to be the highest watched in history as Day 1 and Day 2 would go on to average 11.6 million views, according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were a part of this historic affair as they put together a solid draft that could see them build very well towards the future. While some teams missed the mark with their selections, here is how the nation’s best draft analysts viewed the Jags draft.

Chad Reuter, NFL.com

Overall grade: A

“Jacksonville picked up two star SEC defenders (Henderson and Chaisson) to meet critical needs in the first round, then selected worthwhile prospects in the second (Shenault) and third rounds (Hamilton) to sew up a nice first two days of the draft. They started Day 3 with Bartch, who I thought was worthy of a top-75 selection. He plays with a nasty demeanor, and should be able to line up at tackle or, eventually, slide inside if needed. Scott provides more depth in the secondary. Quarterman’s just a great football player who will start in the middle at some point in his pro career (with the Jags or someone else). Thomas is a better athlete than football player at this point, and is likely a special teamer. Johnson is a nice outside complement to Shenault. Luton will compete for playing time if Gardner Minshew falters in 2020 and should at least be a solid backup in the league for a few years.”

Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post

Grade: A-

“Tear-down-and-rebuild of an elite defense starts with the two first-rounders. Shenault is a creative play-caller’s dream and Bartch is a high-ceiling developmental project.”

Mark Maske,  Washington Post

Grade: B+

“The Jaguars seem firmly in rebuilding mode, and they pushed that process along. They landed the draft’s second-best CB, CJ Henderson, and its second-best pass rusher, K’Lavon Chaisson, in the first round. They participated in the run on WRs with the second-round choice of Laviska Shenault Jr. About all that went wrong is that the Jaguars did not find a team willing to trade for RB Leonard Fournette or pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.

Justin Leger of Yahoo Sports writes


Grade: B

 “Henderson is a perfect pick for Jacksonville after parting ways with Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Combine that with Chaisson at No. 20, and those are two huge additions to the Jags defense. Taking Shenault on Day 2 filled another need at wide receiver, and Hamilton bolsters their run defense. One of the better picks for Jacksonville on Day 3 was Scott, another nice addition to the secondary. Overall, a busy and effective draft for a rebuilding Jaguars squad.”

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com (grade on Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson)

Jacksonville Jaguars: B+

“I love him because he can cover. There are so many guys in the NFL that I talked to leading up to the draft that thought he was better than Okudah.”

Nate Davis, USA TODAY

Grade: C+

“Seems they’re building toward 2021 – Trevor Lawrence? – but nevertheless picked reputable players, including first-round CB C.J. Henderson, who should address a glaring need following Ramsey’s departure. Pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson (Round 1) – taken with a pick obtained for Ramsey – and WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (Round 2) could need a transition year, which isn’t a knock but adds to the feel that this club is in a weird limbo. Speaking of which, disgruntled DE Yannick Ngakoue remains.”

Overall, the media received the Jaguars selections very well which could be an encouraging sign for things to come. It has been a tumultuous few weeks in Jacksonville with disgruntled defensive end Yannick Ngakoue battling with management and numerous accusations of the organization tanking for current Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

However, the Jaguars can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they did a solid job putting together a good, young team that could potentially compete sooner than people may think.

Highlights of every Jaguars selection in 2020 NFL draft

With the 2020 NFL Draft wrapped up, here are highlights of each selection.

Seven draftees on defense and five on offense. That’s the ratio the Jacksonville Jaguars finished with when all of their 2020 NFL Draft selections were made.

To open the draft on Day 1, the Jags selected two Southeastern Conference defenders in C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson. On Day 2 they finally went offense by taking receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. but ended the day by going back to the defensive side with defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton.

In round four the acquired some help on the offensive line by selecting Ben Bartch, then closed the round with two more defensive selections in linebacker Shaq Quarterman and cornerback Josiah Scott. In round five they added a player on each side of the ball by taking safety Daniel Thomas, then receiver Collin Johnson.

In the sixth round, they finally went all offense by snagging quarterback Jake Luton and tight end Tyler Davis and their last selection, taking in round seven, was another defensive back in Chris Claybrooks.

Here’s a set of highlights for all 12 picks made by general manager Dave Caldwell on Thursday and the weekend:

1.9: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida


1.20: EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, Louisiana State


2.42: WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado


3.72: DT DaVon Hamilton, Ohio State


4.116: OL Ben Bartch, St. John


Jaguars select Miami (FL) LB Shaquille Quarterman with pick No. 140

The Jags pulled the trigger on a Jacksonville native in Miami LB Shaquille Quarterman for pick No. 140.

The Jacksonville Jaguars continued to fill needs on the defense with the selection of Shaquille Quarterman in the fourth round (selection No. 140). Quarterman is a local prospect from Orange Park, FL. and attended Oakleaf High School before moving on to the University of Miami.

Quarterman is coming off a 2019 season in which he garnered first-team All-ACC honors as a senior after racking up 107 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and 1.0 sack. He started all 52 games in college, which was a school record for consecutive starts.

With the depth at linebacker looking shaky, this selection makes a lot of sense. That’s especially the case after coach Doug Marrone informed the media that the Jags would be moving to a 3-4 defensive scheme on base downs.

Quarterman will get the chance to learn from veteran linebackers Myles Jack and the newly acquired, former Pro-Bowler, Joe Schobert. He’ll also get to learn from the Jags young linebackers in Leon Jacobs and Quincy Williams. Marrone also brought up in the aforementioned conference call making physicality and tackling a priority. Their moves in free agency, along with the selections they’ve made thus far in the front seven, certainly reflect that concern.