When lingering knee concerns caused elite UCLA two-way phenom Myles Jack to slide into the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the organization pounced on the 36th overall selection to add rare athleticism to their linebacking corps. Bringing fluid sideline-to-sideline range and defensive-back coverage traits to the middle of the field, Jack quickly broke into the starting lineup as a rookie before seizing a full-time role during his second campaign.

Jack was a vital second-level catalyst for the legendary 2017 "Sacksonville" defense that stormed to the AFC Championship Game. He led the NFL with 81 fumble-return yards—highlighted by an 81-yard scoop-and-score touchdown against the New York Jets—and etched his name into franchise lore with an iconic, acrobatic strip-takeaway on Danny Amendola in the AFC title clash.

Building on that momentum, Jack proved to be a high-volume tackling engine over his remaining run in North Florida. He racked up 107 combined tackles and a 32-yard pick-six in 2018, then elevated his game in 2020 to log a career-best 118 combined tackles in just 14 contests. He backed that up in 2021 by leading the team with 108 tackles across 15 starts.

Salary cap restructuring prompted his release after the 2021 campaign, and he spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before concluding his eight-year professional career.  With the Jaguars, Jack had 13 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks,  and three interceptions.

Snagged in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft after an All-Pac-10 run at Washington, Khalif Barnes landed in North Florida to protect Fred Taylor’s blindside. Blessed with 6-foot-6 length and smooth movement traits, he cracked the starting lineup midway through his rookie year, locked down the left tackle spot for 12 starts, and earned PFWA All-Rookie Team recognition for a playoff-bound 12–4 squad.

Barnes made his living as an aggressive, physically imposing edge blocker who paved the way for Jack Del Rio’s run-heavy attack. Working alongside interior stalwarts like Vince Manuwai and Brad Meester, his mobility on pulls and zone stretches created massive operational lanes for Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew during the tandem's peak production years.

Consistency in the starting lineup was his hallmark throughout his initial contract. Barnes stepped onto the field for 60 of a possible 64 regular-season contests in a Jaguars uniform—starting 57 of them—and posted steady annual Approximate Value marks of 7, 9, 10, and 8. That reliability peaked in 2007, when he anchored the left edge for an 11–5 roster that stormed into the Divisional Round.

Upon reaching unrestricted free agency following the 2008 campaign, Barnes inked a deal with Oakland. He spent seven seasons with the Raiders as a versatile swing tackle and guard before finishing his 12-year NFL career with brief stints in New Orleans and Arizona.

Mike Hollis went undrafted out of Idaho in 1994, and after a failed attempt to land a job with the San Diego Chargers, the expansion of the National Football League to the city of Jacksonville would find him employment.

Undrafted out of Saginaw Valley State and forced to take the scenic route through the CFL and arena league before a brief cup of coffee in Detroit, Paul Spicer landed in Jacksonville in 2000 as a determination-driven edge project. His initial foot in the door yielded just three appearances as a reserve, but his relentless pursuit and heavy hands quickly earned him a permanent residence in the defensive line rotation.

Spicer spent his early years bringing high-octane energy off the bench, stepping up with timely stops in the backfield whenever called upon. He broke out in 2005, earning a full-time starting role at defensive end and matching his career best with 7.5 sacks, forcing four fumbles, and anchoring an aggressive front four that spearheaded a playoff run.

That 2005 breakthrough launched a four-year run as a mainstay upfront. Working alongside Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, Spicer’s leverage and motor made him an underrated run defender who could still collapse the pocket on third down. He matched his 7.5-sack total in 2007, serving as a crucial pass-rush engine for an 11–5 roster that advanced to the Divisional Round.

After nine years as a locker-room pillar and frontline anchor in North Florida, Spicer attended one final summer camp with New Orleans in 2009 before hanging up his cleats and beginning a coaching career. In Jacksonville, he recorded 28.5 sacks, 241 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and nine forced fumbles.