Once considered a lock to be a top-10 pick, Myles Jack slipped into the second round of the NFL Draft last month because of injury concerns. Jack will not be practicing with the Jaguars until next month, but that has nothing to do with his balky knee.
Instead, Jack has to wait a few more weeks to rejoin the team because of the NFL’s graduation rule, which prohibits players from officially joining their teams until the senior class at their school graduates.
“It really sucks,” the the former UCLA star said Tuesday, per Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com. “That’s the best way I can put it.”
Unlike most schools, UCLA runs a quarter system for classes instead of having semesters. The final quarter doesn’t end until June 10, whereas most schools that have a semester system wrapped things up at the end of April or early May.
“I think I’m missing like a month and some change, and you can’t get that time back,” Jack said. “I’m going to make the most of it, and hopefully when I come in I’ll have the best idea of the playbook I possibly can so that way they can kind of clean me up and get me right.”
Jack says the Jaguars gave him an iPad loaded with the defensive playbook at rookie orientation, so he will be able to do plenty of work off the field. The NFL rule also does not prohibit teams from keeping contact with players, so he can still work with the coaches on some level.
If you heard what Jack said after falling out of the first round of the draft, you’ll understand why he is so anxious to get to work. Jaguars fans should appreciate the enthusiasm.
Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
