Jaguars OTAs: Tobias Palmer showing off speed

By Alfie Crow@AlfieBCC May 22, 2013, 10:00am EDT

The Jacksonville Jaguars appear to have their starting wide receivers set with Cecil Shorts III and Justin Blackmon, even with the suspension, but after that there are a logjam of players who can fill different roles. The Jaguars drafted Ace Sanders in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but another rookie has also been turning heads in practices thanks to his speed.

N.C. State wide receiver Tobais Palmer ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at his Pro Day and has been flashing that speed for the Jaguars in practice.

"This is my 40th year in coaching and I feel like I can smell it. You get a feel for a guy and you see something."-Jerry Sullivan

"He has to learn and then function in our system but all the things I see, I'm encouraged," receivers coach Jerry Sullivan told the Florida Times-Union.

The Jaguars have a bit of a logjam at the back end for wide receiver with Shorts, Blackmon, and Sanders taking up three spots on the roster, but the final two or three spots should be a battle between Jordan Shipley, Taylor Price, Tobias Palmer, and the other receivers currently on the team. If Palmer can keep flashing his speed when the pads go on, he could have a chance to squeeze his way on the roster, especially with his ability to return kicks.

"As a rookie, your head is going to swim a little bit," Shorts told the Florida Times-Union of Palmer. "You're trying to learn everything, but it doesn't seem like he is panicked. He's pretty under control."

Palmer was disappointed in going undrafted in April, but he knows he can work his way on to the Jaguars final 53-man roster if he continues to up his level of play.

"This has allowed me to get my foot in the door," Palmer told the Times-Union. "But I can't get off the gas pedal. I have to keep pushing until I see my name on the 53-man roster."