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The Jacksonville Jaguars left the 2025 NFL Draft with Travis Hunter, making the reigning Heisman Trophy winner the middle of the workforce’s media consideration. But, a number of different debutants have stood out within the Jaguars’ rookie minicamp and OTAs, notably undrafted wideout Eli Pancol.

With only one profitable season throughout 5 years at Duke, Pancol didn’t enter the league with excessive expectations. However behind Hunter and 2024 standout Brian Thomas Jr., the Jaguars lack depth at receiver. They subsequently signed six undrafted free agent wideouts popping out of the draft, hoping just a few would stand out above the remaining. Pancol seized the chance early in minicamp and has continued the momentum in OTAs.

Regardless of his failure to interrupt onto draft boards, Pancol has been on scouts’ radars for years. As a former four-star recruit, many anticipated him to interrupt out early in his profession. But, Pancol’s damage luck couldn’t have been a lot worse. The Pendleton, Indiana, native broke his left ankle in 2022, solely to return and break his proper ankle in 2023.

Recovering from two devastating lower-leg accidents was something however straightforward, however Pancol lastly obtained his day in courtroom as a fifth-year senior in 2024. The speedster hauled in a team-high 60 catches for 798 receiving yards, establishing himself as one in all Maalik Murphy’s most well-liked targets. Many wrote him off by that time, however Pancol was a significant component in Duke’s stunning 9-3 end.

Had he not suffered consecutive severe ankle accidents to derail his collegiate profession, most consider that Pancol would have been a precedence draft choose. Whereas the journey might need been prolonged longer than he had hoped, Pancol has made probably the most of his alternative on the Jaguars’ 2025 OTAs.

Eli Pancol is impressing at 2025 OTAs

Since gracing the apply discipline, Pancol has been nothing however spectacular. The ankle accidents seem like a factor of the previous, as he has been nothing however fast and explosive. Pancol ran an unofficial 4.33-second 40-yard sprint at Duke’s Professional Day exercises, in line with the Draft Community. To date, his pace has been as marketed on the Jaguars’ OTAs.

Pancol has confirmed to be greater than pace, making eye-opening performs every day. With out pads, the physicality of his slight body has but to be examined, however he continues to be “athletic” and “spectacular” in OTAs, in line with Sports activities Illustrated’s John Shipley.

“If there may be one factor that has been clear concerning the Jaguars’ rookie class to date, it’s that rookie huge receiver Eli Pancol is a playmaker,” Shipley wrote. “He has to show that it may carry over from padless practices, however he has made a handful of performs in every apply which have impressed, and Thursday was no completely different. Pancol made probably the greatest performs of the day with an athletic catch on the left sideline, and he has additionally had a number of huge features over the center of the sphere. It is extremely, very early, but it surely feels secure to say his inventory is pointing up proper now.”

For undrafted free brokers, OTAs are merely step one. Making the ultimate roster is an extended and arduous climb that usually ends in disappointment. But, Pancol has all of the early indicators of a hidden gem. If there’s a time and place for an offensive rookie like him to interrupt via, it’s with Coen and the Jaguars in 2025.

Jaguars lack WR depth behind star duo

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With Travis Hunter becoming a member of the Jaguars, nobody thought to offer another rookie receiver one other look within the 2025 offseason. That doesn’t appear to matter to Eli Pancol, who’s forcing individuals to face his route. After hiring Liam Coen as their subsequent head coach, Jacksonville is clearly dedicated to its offense in 2025, and Pancol is slowly convincing the workforce that he must be part of it.

Hunter is the brand new prized rookie of the room, however the Jaguars already had their key offensive items in place. Coen’s hiring was meant to get probably the most out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who prepares for his fifth season within the league. Thomas proved himself as an elite wideout in his rookie season, one worthy of constructing an offense round. The workforce expects Hunter to enrich him, but it surely might need discovered an much more useful depth piece in Pancol.

Behind Thomas and Hunter, Jacksonville signed Dyami Brown as a possible third goal. Parker Washington additionally presents himself as an possibility, with former undrafted free agent Austin Trammell combating for a similar job. Nothing will probably be determined till coaching camp, however Pancol is shortly inserting himself into that dialog.

By hiring Coen, the hope is for the items to lastly fall into place in 2025. The Jaguars financially dedicated to Lawrence within the 2024 offseason and crammed out their offensive line by signing Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari in free company. The backfield continues to be a multitude, however every thing strains up for Jacksonville’s offense to take a major leap. Discovering a real No. 3 goal would tie the items collectively. Below the brand new regime, Pancol is the participant standing out early within the course of.