Dante Fowler Jr.

Dante Fowler Jr.
No. 56 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1994-08-03) August 3, 1994
St. Petersburg, Florida
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Lakewood
(St. Petersburg, Florida)
College: Florida
NFL Draft: 2015 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2018
Total tackles: 55
Sacks: 13.0
Forced fumbles: 3
Fumble recoveries: 3
Interceptions: 0
Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at NFL.com

Dante Antwane Fowler Jr. (born August 3, 1994) is an American football defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and was selected third overall by the Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft.

High school career

Fowler attended Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. Fowler was named an honorable mention to the Sports Illustrated All-American football team following his senior season, and was selected to the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game.[1] In track, Fowler competed as a shot putter, recording a top-throw of 14.32 meters (47-ft).[2]

College career

During his freshman year, Fowler moved to the outside linebacker position. Fowler played in all 13 games and started his first game against Missouri. He recorded 30 tackles, including eight for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He was named to numerous freshman all-American teams. In 2013, Fowler started all 13 game for the Gators, and was named a team captain for the two final games of the season. He recorded 50 tackles, including 10.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. In 2014, he slimmed down from 277 to 261 pounds, in an effort to be a more explosive edge player for the Gators.[3][4] He recorded 60 tackles, including 15 for loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, and was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the conference's coaches.[5] In his final game, the 2015 Birmingham Bowl vs East Carolina, he recorded three sacks helping the Gators to the 28-20 victory.[6]

On November 19, 2014, Fowler tweeted that he would leave the school with Will Muschamp, who announced he would step down as head coach. Fowler made his intentions to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.[7]

Professional career

Fowler was selected in the first round with the third overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft.[8][9]

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP
6 ft 2 5⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 261 lb
(118 kg)		 33 3⁄4 in
(0.86 m)		 9 1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.60 s 1.59 s 2.69 s 4.32 s 7.40 s 32 1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		 19 reps
All values from NFL Combine

On May 8, 2015, Fowler tore his ACL on the first day of mini-camp and missed the entirety of his rookie season.[10][11] On May 12, four days after tearing his ACL, Fowler signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $23.5 million contract, with a $15.3 million signing bonus.[12]

After being out for his entire rookie year due to his ACL injury, Fowler finally made his long-waited debut on September 11, 2016 in the game against the Green Bay Packers, where he made three tackles (one for a loss) as the Jaguars lost the game 27–23.[13] He ended his first official season playing in all 16 games with one start, recording 32 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and five passes defensed.

On September 10, 2017, in the 29–7 season opening victory over the Houston Texans, Fowler had a stellar game. He had a 53-yard fumble return for a touchdown near the end of the first half. The touchdown was the first one of Fowler's professional career. Late in the third quarter, Fowler forced a fumble off of quarterback Deshaun Watson, which was recovered by teammate Yannick Ngakoue.[14][15]

On May 2, 2018, the Jaguars declined the fifth-year option on Fowler's contract, making him a free agent in 2019.[16] On July 20, 2018, Fowler was suspended for one game due to violating the league's personal conduct policy.[17]

On July 18, 2017, Fowler was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida for simple battery and committing mischief. Fowler confronted a man who commented about his driving, struck the man, broke his glasses, and threw a bag containing liquor into a lake. He was released from jail the next day on a $650 bond.[18] On March 1, 2018, Fowler was sentenced to one year probation, 75 hours of community service, and $2575 in fines after pleading no contest to battery, criminal mischief, and petty theft.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Dante Fowler Jr. hopes to find redemption in Under Armour game
  2. ↑ http://fl.milesplit.com/meets/108498/results/194265
  3. ↑ Leaner Dante Fowler Jr. hopes to feast on UF Gators’ opposing quarterbacks
  4. ↑ UF's Dante Fowler Jr. embraces role as defensive leader
  5. ↑ Fowler on coaches' All-SEC team
  6. ↑ Dante Fowler leads Florida to Birmingham Bowl win over ECU
  7. ↑ Dante Fowler tweets he's leaving Florida with Will Muschamp
  8. ↑ Thompson, Edgar (April 30, 2015). "Jaguars select Gators' Dante Fowler Jr. with No. 3 pick in NFL draft". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ Long, Mark (April 30, 2015). "Jaguars select stylish, productive Fowler with 3rd pick". Kansas City Star. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ Payne, Marissa (May 8, 2015). "Jaguars first-round pick Dante Fowler reportedly out for season after injuring knee". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ Wilhalme, Matt (May 8, 2015). "Video: Jaguars first-rounder Dante Fowler Jr. tears ACL in practice". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Dante Fowler Jr. signs 4-year, $23.5 million deal with Jags, sources say". ESPN. May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Dante Fowler Jr. plays first NFL game". WRUF. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans - September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Dante Fowler Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  16. ↑ Patra, Kevin (May 2, 2018). "Jags decline to pick up Dante Fowler's fifth-year option". NFL.com.
  17. ↑ Sessler, Marc (July 20, 2018). "Dante Fowler suspended one game for 2017 incident". NFL.com.
  18. ↑ "Dante Fowler Jr. arrested on charges of simple battery, mischief". ESPN. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  19. ↑ Knoblauch, Austin (March 1, 2018). "Dante Fowler sentenced to probation in battery case". NFL.com.
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