When he visited Jacksonville in early April, former Maryland defensive end Yannick Ngakoue caught a certain feeling while he was around the Jaguars.
"It was just a family vibe when I came in," Ngakoue said in a conference call with reporters. "It was like everybody is close, it's a family and they're just about their business. I felt a great vibe from Jacksonville."
He knew that "nobody has a crystal ball to the draft," but the Jaguars felt like a team where he would fit in.
On Friday night, Jacksonville made him the No. 69 overall pick of the NFL draft, giving Maryland's single-season sack leader a new home at the next level.
"I bring intensity," Ngakoue said. "I bring speed, and I just bring a lot of versatility. I'm a team player, and I know day one I can come in and get to the quarterback."
Jacksonville defensive coordinator Todd Wash conducted a last-minute workout with Ngakoue on Monday, which helped solidify Ngakoue on the Jaguars' draft board.
"His first step is really good," Wash said. "He can cover some ground vertically. He has the ability to lean and bend. He not only is a speed guy but has enough man in him to be a power rusher also. He can come speed to power, and you can't be a one-trick pony when you're rushing the passer, so we're very excited about Yannick."
Ngakoue joins a stable of dynamic defensive players in Jacksonville's draft class. The Jaguars used the No. 5 overall pick on Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was thought by some to be the top player in the draft. In the second round at No. 36 overall, Jacksonville plucked UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, another top talent who had fallen because of injury concerns. Then it was Ngakoue's turn.
"It's just a blessing," Ngakoue said. "Those guys are great, and I'm just ready to go to work with them at rookie mini-camp, day one. Just learn the defensive scheme and ready for all of us to contribute as much as we can. I'm just ready."
Jaguars general manager David Caldwell said the team had identified Ngakoue early in the draft process as someone who could fit in their scheme and produce. Jacksonville ranked No. 24 in total defense and No. 20 in sacks last season, and defensive coordinator Bob Babich was fired in January. Ngakoue gets to be part of a new start in a revamped defense.
"He made a lot of plays, and he is not a big guy to play defensive end," Caldwell said. "Some people may consider him a pass rusher only. I think he has the mindset to be better in his run defense. … He plays hard and you can see that on the film. He is another high character kid and he got to meet with our owner, got to meet with everybody when he came on his visit. We like the kid and we like the player even more."
When Ngakoue committed to Maryland in 2013, he chose to stay home and try to build something in College Park. Though the Terps fell off in 2015 after back-to-back winning seasons in Ngakoue's first two seasons, he blossomed into one of the Big Ten Conference's best pass rushers. In Jacksonville, he'll set out with the same goals he took to Maryland.
"I love to win," Ngakoue said. "I hate to lose. I just hope, when I come down, I can help contribute to a winning team and that's what we're going to try to do and that's what we're going to do. Have 100 percent belief in God to know that we're going to turn things around and have a playoff and Super Bowl team."
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