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According to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Jaguars will be signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Dare Ogunbowale.
The #Jaguars are in the process of signing former #Buccaneers RB Dare Ogunbowale, source says. A special-teams ace, Ogunbowale stays in Florida after meeting with the #Raiders earlier this week.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 9, 2020
The Jaguars were in serious need of depth at the tailback position after waiving running back Leonard Fournette and with second-year RB Ryquell Armstead still on the mend, on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. While the team did bring in former Atlanta Falcons RB Devonte Freeman for a workout earlier this week, ultimately, both parties since moved on.
With Devine Ozigbo, James Robinson and Chris Thompson as the only tailbacks on the roster, currently, the team needed to make a move.
Ogunbowale, 5-foot-10, 205 pounds was originally signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in 2017 before eventually signing with the Buccaneers in 2017 and once again in 2018.
While he hasn’t received much offensive action - 11 carries for 17 yards and two touchdowns, along with 35 receptions for 286 receiving yards. Ogunbowale is highly-touted as a special-teams ace, an underrated part of a team’s success.
At Wisconsin, Ogunbowale joined the team as a walk-on, first playing special teams and cornerback before moving to running back behind now-Denver Broncos tailback Melvin Gordon and Philadelphia Eagles RB Corey Clement due to depth. In 2015, however, Ogunbowale lead the Badgers in rushing yards with an injured clement out of the running.
Prior to leaving Wisconsin, the soon-to-be Jaguars tailback was voted as a captain.
When the transaction eventually takes place, the team will need to make a roster transaction as the team’s roster is currently set at 53.