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Jacksonville Jaguars' Foye Oluokun is a tackling machine. But wins are biggest concern.
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- Jacksonville Jaguars' Foye Oluokun is a tackling machine. But wins are biggest concern.
Training camp report day was July 23 for veteran players of the Jacksonville Jaguars . But linebacker Foye Oluokun came in early, reporting with the rookies three days before camp opened to get a jumpstart on the defense and prepared for the grind of the almost daily practices.
Oluokun is entering his third season with the Jaguars and is focused on learning his new role, whatever it shapes up to be in first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's system .
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It could be as a MIKE or a WILL linebacker, but he's not concerned about the end role as much as the progress he and the team is making through the first six days.
"I think I'm very excited about the way the defense is shaping up," he said. "If we execute our plays the way we know how. So far, we've done a good job."
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) points during the first day of an NFL football training camp practice Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
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This isn't the first time Oluokun has been in the building when he's not required to. Last offseason he stuck around after head coach Doug Pederson dismissed veterans early for summer vacation.
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His mindset then was you can't duck work . His mindset now is of the same thinking.
"Kind of test myself out, make sure I get my feet under me," he said. "I thought it was really cool, because then I got to understand how the defense worked a little bit before the rest of the guys came, just being smart about it."
Oluokun has led the charge of a strong start from Jacksonville's defense in training camp. They've often outplayed the offense, coming up with takeaways and making momentum stopping plays against Trevor Lawrence and company.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) tackles a pad during the third day of an NFL football training camp practice Friday, July 26, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
It's what many fans and spectators have come to grow accustomed to with the seven-year pro. Oluokun led the league in total tackles in 2021 and 2022. Then he led the league in solo tackles in 2022 and 2023.
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But he finds himself at a crossroad as he goes into the new season.
It could be argued that his individual statistics should've led to more personal accolades. He's recorded the most total tackles in the league in the past three years.
And yet, he's missed out on Pro Bowl nominations and other acknowledgement year after year.
"I don't think I'm getting personal accolades until the team gets their accolades," Oluokun said. "I mean, somebody read me my stats in the past three years, and they look really good, but apparently, people don't care about it. At this point, wins are going to bring all of that."
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Nielsen impressed with Oluokun's work ethic, effort early in camp
Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen talks with his players during the fourth day of the NFL football training camp practice session Saturday, July 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium's Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
The former defensive staff referred to Oluokun as 'James Brown' because he was the hardest working man on the team. It might be a nickname that the new coaching staff picks up because he's carrying extra motivation into this season.
"I know Coach Nielsen is a pretty hard guy to impress," Oluokun said. "I'm trying to be the best for him because I think if I play well for him, he's going to take my career to a whole new level."
Unknown to Oluokun, he's made an impact on Nielsen already. Asked to describe Oluokun in three words, Nielsen used six: "Smart, tough, aggressive," he said. "Add one more, if I could, phenomenal-effort player."
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The pairing of Oluokun with a coach like Nielsen could spark an even better season for the linebacker. He admitted at times in his career he's tried to correct the mistakes of others on the field and tried to be the playmaker.
Jacksonville Jaguars defenders Foyesade Oluokun (23, left) and DaVon Hamilton (52, right) bring down Tennessee running back Derrick Henry during a Jan. 7, 2023 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
In this system, everybody owns their role and works individually, as one unit.
"What we try to do for all the players is, 'Hey, here's fundamentals, technique, and make it yours.' And that's what he's doing," Nielsen added.
Oluokun averaged nearly 120 total tackles in his first two seasons in Jacksonville, expect to see that number decrease.
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Not because he's not capable of sustaining that level of play, because he's not required to.
"It's really cool when the ball goes to the other side and he's running 30 yards down the field to go finish on the play," Nielsen said with a smile. "Like, yeah, that guy loves football. He's giving everything he's got for this football team."
Rookie DL Maason Smith benefiting from extra reps, mentors on the defensive line
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Tyler Lacy (93), left, hits the sled against defensive tackle Maason Smith (94) during the second day of a mandatory minicamp Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Nielsen and his staff still aren't using depth charts in practice so players are able to mix it up with different groups and get more reps that they wouldn't otherwise get. Rookies and young players are some of the beneficiaries of this system, allowing them time on the field and more tape to see.
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In the case of rookie defensive lineman Maason Smith, he's able to get even more work because Arik Armstead and Roy Robertson-Harris are both recovering from offseason injuries.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith (94) looks on during the second day of a mandatory minicamp Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"One of our things is equal reps for everybody, what you do with your reps, doesn't matter who it's against," he said. "Those other guys that you mentioned, they're good football players and they're mentoring him and how to do it, how to be a practice player, take care of your body and things like that."
The work that's done in the classroom and in preparation to learn the system is equally as important as what happens on the field. And Smith has done a good job of taking coaching.
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"Part of being a rookie is you have a little bit more time requirement in terms of meetings and fundamentals. That's helped him," Nielsen said. "The guys on the staff [have] done a really good job."
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: Jaguars' Foye Oluokun wants team success before personal accolades
