JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars will host eight tryout players at this week’s veteran mandatory minicamp: FB Lamar Atkins, TE Ashton Broyld, CB Charles Gaines, QB Justin Holman, P Peter Mortell, LS Taybor Pepper, WR Garrett Scantling and K Nicholas Weiler.
Atkins, 5-11, 216, graduated from Louisville after appearing in 49 games for the Cardinals from 2013-16. As a senior in 2016, Atkins appeared in all 13 games and saw action at FB and LB, registering 16 tackles. Atkins, a native of Miami, Fla., played for Head Coach Daryle Heidelburg at Miami Norland H.S. Atkins helped lead Norland to a 15-0 record and Class 5A Florida state championship as a senior. Atkins will wear No. 49 at this week’s minicamp.
Recommended Videos
Broyld, 6-4, 220, started his career at Syracuse, where he competed for four seasons and earned three letters before finishing his collegiate career at West Georgia. During his sophomore season in 2013, he played in all 13 games, starting 11, and led the Orange in receptions (52) and yards (452). A native of Rochester, N.Y., Broyld played for Head Coach Joe Montesano and was named 2010 New York State Class AA Player of the Year after leading Rush-Henriette to the Class AA state championship and a 13-0 record. Broyld will wear No. 80 at this week’s minicamp.
Gaines, 5-11, 175, was originally drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round of the 2015 draft and played in six games during his rookie campaign. Gaines participated on Buffalo’s practice squad during the 2016 season, before being released during the team’s OTA practices last month. At Louisville, the Miami native started his collegiate career at WR, before moving to CB as a sophomore. During his junior season, his last at UL, he earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors after leading the team with five INTs. Gaines will wear No. 30 at this week’s minicamp.
Holman, 6-4, 225, played in 32 games during a four-year career at Central Florida. As a senior in 2016, he completed 36 of 83 passes for three TDs. The Stone Mountain, Ga. native had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2013, throwing for 2,952 yards and 23 TDs en route to earning the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player award at its annual awards banquet. Holman played for Head Coach Ron Gartrell at Stephenson High School, where he also lettered in track. Holman will wear No. 6 at this week’s minicamp.
Mortell, 5-11, 203, originally signed as an undrafted free agent and spent training camp with Green Bay prior to the 2016 season. The Green Bay, Wis. native attended Minnesota, where he served as the team’s primary punter for the last three seasons for his collegiate career. His career average of 44.0 yards ranks first in team history. Mortell attended Notre Dame Academy, where he earned first-team all-state honors from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. Mortell will wear No. 1 at this week’s minicamp.
Pepper, 6-4, 245, spent several months with Green Bay earlier this year before joining the Jaguars for the team’s minicamp this week. The Saline, Mich. native was a four-year (2012-15) starting long snapper at Michigan State, where he played in 54 games, tied for the most of any Spartan player in MSU history. He also posted 10 career special teams tackles. Pepper attended Saline High School and also ran track. Pepper will wear No. 47 at this week’s minicamp.
Scantling, 6-3, 187, brings a decorated track and field career back to Jacksonville. A three-time SEC Indoor Champion and two-time First Team Indoor All-American competing in the decathlon and heptathlon, Scantling earned his first football experience when he signed with Atlanta in April. The
Jacksonville native attended Episcopal, where he caught 66 passes for 13 TDs and more than 1,200 yards as a senior. Scantling finished fourth at Olympic qualifying in 2016. Scantling will wear No. 9 at this week’s minicamp.
Weiler, 6-0, 190, also participated on a tryout basis with the Jaguars during the team’s rookie minicamp in May. The Fairfax Station, Va. native earned several accolades during a four-year career at North Carolina, including third-team All-ACC honors after he set the single-season scoring mark with 127 points in 2015. His senior season in 2016 was highlighted by a 54-yard game-winning FG at Florida State as time expired. Weiler will wear No. 4 at this week’s minicamp.