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Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Rayuan Lane III has second career waiting: Marine Corps
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- Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Rayuan Lane III has second career waiting: Marine Corps
Being drafted into the NFL is a goal many dream of, making it while being commissioned into the Marine Corps is another level.
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Rayuan Lane III accomplished both feats on his way to signing a contract in the NFL. The 22-year-old was selected out of the Naval Academy with the 200th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft . He was the first Navy football player invited to the NFL scouting combine since 2019.
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Lane graduated from the Naval Academy and was listed a second lieutenant of the Marine Corps. While he holds this position, Lane is able to fully pursue football thanks to the FY25 NDAA amendment 10 U.S.C. 8459 . The act allows service members, who obtain employment as a professional athlete, to be transferred to the Selected Reserve of the Marine Corps and serve as a commissioned officer.
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"Ultimately, Its a dream come true," he said. "To go to the Naval Academy, graduate and have the support system that is there is a blessing. Now, I can show what the kind of leadership and intangibles I learned from there and bring it here to the Jaguars."
Lane primarily played safety at Navy. In his four seasons with the Midshipmen, he had 244 tackles, seven interceptions and 21 pass deflections. In his junior season, Lane led the American Athletic Conference in interceptions (four) and interception yards (122 yards); he returned one of his interceptions into a touchdown. His Navy teams twice defeated Army in one of the great college football rivalries.
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"This past year was probably my favorite because we waxed them," Lane said. "It wasn't close at all; it was our best uniforms and that was our best team since I have been there."
Lane's passion has always been football. Growing up in Maryland, he played the game with his younger brother, Dejuan, a defensive back at Penn State, throughout his childhood. His passion brought him to the Navy and soon he gained a new love in the Marine Corp. In his junior year, he entered the NCAA transfer portal to explore opportunities at higher-profile football programs. He received scholarship offers from Power Four universities, including UCLA and Notre Dame, but ultimately Lane decided to stay at the Naval Academy.
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayuan Lane III (25) hauls in a pass during drills during the seventh organized team activity at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Monday, June 2, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
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"I was able to do some trainings, go into some tanks and do other pretty cool things," Lane said. "I also had a lot of mentors in the Marine Corps and they sparked my interest."
His continuous success has been recognized throughout the United States Military and Lane had the opportunity to visit the Pentagon with his family. He was hosted by the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; the two were seen throwing a football together.
"An incredible amount of pride to put on my MARPATs and represent at the Pentagon," Lane said. "I wouldn't say getting Marine Corps out of the Naval Academy is easy so knowing I accomplished that goal and wear the uniform is huge."
The Jaguars have changed their defensive back room almost completely during the offseason. The team added an abundance of veteran presence such as Jourdan Lewis from the Dallas Cowboys and Eric Murray from the Houston Texans . Safety Andrew Wingard and Darnell Savage are also veterans on the team and Lane spoke highly of them and the whole defensive back room looking after the young guys on the team.
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Lane is joined by Caleb Ransaw out of Tulane and Travis Hunter to the defensive back room where Jacksonville was ranked dead last in passing yards allowed last season. All of the Jaguars new additions. along with new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile , hope to provide more resistances for offenses.
"To have vets that are excited, ready to play and want to bring you along is great," Lane said. "They have taken us out bowling before. When you can incorporate people like that in this atmosphere, it feels like a family-like atmosphere and all you want to do is thrive in it."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars Rayuan Lane III isn't just rookie, he's a Marine
