Lonnie Pryor should add versatility to Jaguars FB position

The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed long time fullback Greg Jones leave in free agency, leaving a void at the fullback position heading into the 2013 NFL Draft. The Jaguars didn't draft a fullback, but they might have found one who will make the roster, from Jones' own alma mater no less, in former Seminoles fullback Lonnie Pryor.

Like some other undrafted free agents, Pryor chose the Jaguars because of the possibility he could earn a starting job.

"I felt like if I had to go anywhere to get a starting position, this was definitely the best route for me to go," Pryor told Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.

A big reason Pryor has a chance to earning a starting role however isn't just because of who is and isn't on the roster, but because of the skill set Pryor brings to the table for the Jaguars.

"We found out that he can even be used as a one-back type of guy," Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley told reporters during mini-camp. "He's good in protection, he's good catching the ball out in the flat and he's got a good feel for the blocking scheme."

At Florida State, Pryor played the fullback position and touched the ball sparingly, but paved the way for multiple rushers for the Seminoles. In Pryor's senior season, he was able to touch the ball a little more and ended up gaining more rushing yards his senior year than his previous three season's combined while averaging 8 yards per carry. Pryor also contributed catching the ball out of the backfield and running the ball on the goal line at both fullback and running back.

That kind of ability gives the Jaguars the versatile type of fullback they had in Greg Jones' early days, prior to his injuries, and should put Pryor on the fast track to the final roster when cuts come down.

The Jaguars offense going forward appears to be using a fullback, but in what capacity isn't yet known. Pryor has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything however, so he should be fine either way.

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