Engineered to succeed: Jaguars rookie center Luke Fortner brings experience, three degrees
In March, former Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder announced he was retiring from the NFL, creating a hole at one of the most important and under-appreciated positions in football.
Roughly a month later in the third round of the NFL Draft, the Jaguars filled that hole by selecting Luke Fortner with the 65th overall pick.
Versatility was one of the first words head coach Doug Pederson used to describe him, praising his ability to play guard as well as center and acknowledging his ability to give the Jaguars depth on the offensive line.
“He’s a guy that when you watch him on film, he can do everything that we do in our offense in the run game,” Pederson said after the pick. “Whether he’s reaching the three-technique or climbing to the second level, he’s got the ability to do that. He can redirect. Just a really good fit for our offensive line and that room.”
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Fortner was a redshirt senior at Kentucky, appearing in 55 games in his career and starting for three consecutive seasons. His consistency and versatility will be a welcomed sight to an offensive line that needs both.
Jacksonville’s offensive line was ranked 24th in the final rankings from Pro Football Focus. They acknowledged that the scheme and overall situation from last season didn’t help, but the below average play was costly to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the offense.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, Fortner played under Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen at Kentucky when he was offensive coordinator for the Wildcats. Fortner gave credit to Coen and his pro-style system for being such a highly-rated draft prospect.
“Liam Coen is a freaking genius,” Fortner said. “I sit in the meeting room, and he says things and I just scratch my head a little bit. I’m like, ‘What?’ But obviously he knows what he’s doing. My fifth year I didn’t have a pro-style offense and wasn’t a super highly touted prospect. In my sixth year, I had a pro offense and here I am, so it definitely helps a lot.”
With Fortner already playing in a pro-style offense, his on-field transition to the NFL has been a bit easier. He’s able to pick up concepts and have "aha moments" when reading the playbook.
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Off the field, Fortner is still getting adjusted to being a professional athlete. He’s only a few weeks removed from his college courses where he earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s in aerospace engineering and a master’s in business administration.
He’s also getting used to the fact that everything he does off the field is tied to his on-field production.
“No homework to do on the weekends that’s for sure, so it’s nice in that sense,” he said jokingly on becoming a professional athlete. “But it’s your job and everything you do, everything you put in your body, every time you walk outside it’s about being the best you can be on the football field. It’s a little different, something I’m still adjusting to, but I’m excited.”
Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @JustonLewis_.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars rookie center Luke Fortner ready to make impact
