Miami Hurricanes four-year starting linebacker Shaq Quarterman is returning home after being a fourth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Miami Hurricanes four-year starting linebacker Shaq Quarterman is returning to Jacksonville where he grew up and played high school football after the Jaguars selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Quarterman was the first Miami player selected. Running back DeeJay Dallas was also a fourth-round pick.
Dallas was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks where he will join former teammate, RB Travis Homer. Jacksonville finished the season 6-10 and is three years removed from playing in the AFC Championship Game. the Jaguars defense finished 21st in points allowed and 24th in total defense in 2019.
Quarterman joins a relatively young Jaguars LB corps. Weakside LB Joe Schobert who Jacksonville signed as a free agent last month and middle LB Myles Jack are entering their fifth NFL seasons. Strongside LB Quincy Williams was a third-round pick by Jacksonville in 2019. Quarterman was the second LB taken by Jacksonville.
The Jaguars chose K’Lavon Chaisson of LSU 20th overall in the first round. Chaisson is expected to be an edge rusher for Jacksonville. Jacksonville is trying to rebuild a defense that has lost several elite players via free agency and forced trades in the past few seasons. Jacksonville chose six defensive players in the first five rounds.
The @Jaguars just got a 𝙙𝙖𝙬𝙜 in their linebacker room with Shaq Quarterman! 😤🙌#NFLDraft #ACCFootball pic.twitter.com/5VNXFJ4wPO
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 25, 2020
Quarterman joins a Jaguars team with three former Miami offensive lineman. Brandon Linder is the starting center for Jacksonville, he is backed up by Quarterman’s former teammate Tyler Gauthier and another former teammate K.C. McDermott is the Jaguars backup right tackle.
Quarterman will the highest selected player in the Jacksonville LB corps who is not expected to a starter in 2020. Joe Giles-Harris who starred at Duke is currently listed as the backup at MLB to Schobert. Quarterman is going to have to contribute on special teams and learn to play the WLB and SLB positions.
Shaq Quarterman was simply a player who produced in college. The four-year starter finished his Miami career ninth in program history in tackles with 356 tackles and added 46.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 13 pass breakups and five fumble recoveries. Quarterman is the ideal teammate and should develop into a leader in the NFL.