<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Leonard Fournette has been everything the Jaguars hoped early in camp

          Rookie RB Leonard Fournette found the end zone in his first preseason game. Jim Rogash/Getty Images
          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterAug 15, 2017, 11:00 AM
            Close
              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
            Follow on X

          JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Here is a breakdown of the Jacksonville Jaguars' 2017 draft class and its progress after two weeks of training camp:

          Leonard Fournette, RB, first round (No. 4 overall): The Jaguars have had him working mainly with the second-team offense in camp because coach Doug Marrone says he wants rookies to earn their way up the depth chart, but it’s easy to see that Fournette is the real deal. He’s a powerful runner, yet he has been able to slip through creases at the line of scrimmage to gain positive yards when it appeared he would be tackled for a loss or no gain. Fournette has also proven throughout camp that he will be a good receiver out of the backfield. There's a little bit of concern, however, about a foot injury that the team is trying to manage. Fournette missed his first practice Monday, and the team is taking a cautious approach with him.

          Cam Robinson, OT, second round (No. 34): He inherited the starting left tackle job when Brandon Albert retired and has had a solid start to camp. His athleticism and quickness at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds are impressive, and he pancaked a couple of guys in the Jaguars’ preseason opener against New England. Robinson has handled speed rushers off the edge pretty well, and his size makes him hard to bull rush. His biggest test of the season will come in the opener against J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus.

          Dawuane Smoot, DE, third round (No. 68): He has had a relatively quiet start to camp and is currently fourth on the depth chart at weakside end. He’s behind Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler and Lerentee McCray, whom the Jaguars signed mainly as a core player on special teams. Smoot did have five tackles on defense and one on special teams in the preseason opener, so maybe he’s starting to find his comfort level heading into the meat of the preseason schedule.

          Dede Westbrook, WR, fourth round (No. 110): Westbrook missed all of OTAs and minicamp, so he had a lot of catching up to do when camp began, but the former Oklahoma standout has steadily improved and is beginning to make more plays on offense. He is certainly in the mix at punt returner, and his role for the first half of the season might come mainly on special teams.

          Blair Brown, LB, fifth round (No. 148): He had a team-high eight tackles in the preseason opener, and it was encouraging because he has had a relatively quiet camp so far. He has the versatility to play all three linebacker positions but right now is working behind Telvin Smith and Josh McNary on the weak side. His biggest role as a rookie likely will be on special teams.

          Jalen Myrick, CB, seventh round (No. 222): Myrick had a rough start to camp, repeatedly getting burned for TDs. That wouldn’t be so bad if it were just Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns, but he was victimized by undrafted rookies Larry Pinkard and Amba Etta-Tawo. Myrick will have an uphill battle to make the roster.

          Marquez Williams, FB, seventh round (No. 240): Williams started camp on PUP and didn’t come off that list until Aug. 6, so he’s pretty far behind Tommy Bohanon at this point. He's likely headed for the practice squad.