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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie De'Antre Prince reached out to All-Pro Josh Norman for advice
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- Jacksonville Jaguars rookie De'Antre Prince reached out to All-Pro Josh Norman for advice
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie cornerback De'Antre Prince is ready for the shift that's coming.
In college, he was the man. A lockdown cornerback in the SEC who recorded 27 career pass deflections, six interceptions and two forced fumbles.
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But after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Prince is starting back at square one. He's pushed down the depth chart and forced to learn a new scheme, defense, teammates and coaching staff.
It's something he's not only willing to do, but he's ready to do it. Because he has an entire community behind him and he knows these opportunities come few and far in between.
"Where I'm from, a lot of people don't get this opportunity," he said. "I'm the first to do it. And I put that pressure on my shoulders and I'm gonna make sure it's successful every time."
Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince (24) tries to pull in a pass during a mandatory minicamp session on June 10.
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Prince said he's soaked up information from the veterans around him, including standout defensive back Josh Norman . The two spoke via Instagram after Prince was drafted.
He said he sent him a direct message letting him know he was drafted in the same round as Norman and asked for advice on the journey.
"I was just wanting to pick his brain and see his mindset going in as a rookie and as a fifth-round draft pick," Prince said of the interaction. "Just that respect factor that he had for himself and the confidence that he obviously had on that field. I just want to know, be a better version of that for sure."
Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince runs drills in rookie minicamp.
The coaching staff has described Prince as speed on demand and it was on full display during the combine. The Ole Miss defensive back blazed with a 4.38 40-yard dash time.
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When asked about his speed, he laughed admitting, "I guess that means I'm kind of just fast whenever I want to be type of thing. But I feel like a lot of people are slower than me."
He also said he has a good reaction time and enjoys studying routes to better prepare himself as two of his main attributes as a defender. He'll need those attributes because Prince is entering training camp competing for a starting spot.
The spot opposite Tyson Campbell isn't, currently, occupied with several players jostling for the opportunity to fill the role.
Jaguars cornerback De'Antre Prince talks with reporters after a rookie minicamp session in May.
He's going up against veteran players Ronald Darby and Buster Brown and even rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones . But whether he's a starter or not, he's dedicated to learning and making the most of his opportunity.
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"Just coming in with the attitude, learning from these vets, man. If you can put your pride to the side and do that man, you're gonna have a long career," Prince said. "I felt like that was one of my key things that I want to learn … just listening and learning from the guys who's been doing it.
"And know when my time comes, I'm gonna make the best of the opportunity for sure."
Juston Lewis is a Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_ .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' De'Antre Prince reached out to All-Pro for help
