With the 2025 NFL Draft within the books, it’s time to mirror on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone ship a masterclass, or has he simply set the Jags again 5 years? Fact is, we in all probability received’t know that for a while. However we are able to get to know the latest members of the workforce a bit of bit higher. Within the newest of our mini-series of deep dives, listed here are three issues to find out about Jonah Monheim, C, USC:
Versatile
Jonah Monheim could have been listed as a middle when his identify was referred to as within the seventh spherical of April’s NFL Draft. However take one take a look at his school profession and you will notice that the offensive lineman is adept in a variety of roles and positions.
Throughout his time at USC, Monheim featured in 52 video games, beginning 46 of them. Of these 46 begins, solely 12 of them got here at middle, a place he made his personal in his senior yr. Previous to that, Monheim was moved across the line and performed the place was wanted, recording 18 begins at proper deal with, 12 at left deal with and 4 at proper guard. Referring to him as ‘a grand slam decide’, Monheim’s former head coach Lincoln Riley praised him for his capacity to play wherever he requested him to:
“Effectively, Jacksonville nonetheless simply obtained a heck of a participant. And admittedly, I believe he was simply massively underdrafted… …the flexibility to begin in any respect three ranges of an offensive line – you simply hardly ever discover guys that each mentally and bodily can do this at a spot, particularly a spot like USC,”
It’s a infamous battle for seventh spherical draft picks to make a roster. And once they do, it’s often as a result of they’re able to contribute in a lot of methods. Jonah Monheim is actually ready to do this.
Clever
USC C Jonah Monheim looks as if a Luke Fortner alternative for the #Jaguars and an total higher scheme match with Liam Coen’s wide-zone blocking scheme. He agile, has nimble ft, and performs with good physique management and quickness. pic.twitter.com/dVTXfvI50c
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) Could 23, 2025
Jonah Monheim, by all accounts, is extremely clever. The primary indicators of this was throughout his recruiting as a three-star prospect out of Moorpark Excessive College; Monheim acquired thirty scholarship affords, with lots of them coming from a few of the most revered educational establishments within the nation. Ivy League faculties Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth and Columbia all tried to lure him from California, while in-state faculties Stanford and Cal each wished him – not only for his soccer capacity, however as a result of he met their excessive educational eligibility necessities.
Enrolling with the Trojans in 2020, Monheim was a mannequin scholar for his total time at USC. He earned a placement on the PAc-12 Tutorial Honor Roll three years operating till this system departed for the Huge Ten, and within the spring of 2024, he was acknowledged as a David X. Marks Scholar – an award given for graduating with a GPA of three.0 or larger and having a GPA within the high 10% of his workforce. He earned his bachelor’s diploma in Enterprise Administration, and went on to pursue a certificates in Gerontology, the examine of ageing.
Within the aforementioned interview with Lincoln Riley, Monheim’s former head coach wasn’t simply appreciative of the middle’s versatility, but in addition his excessive IQ:
“In my view, this man might be the neatest offensive lineman that I’ve ever labored with at any of the stops. His thoughts for the sport, his capacity to course of and perceive schemes and defenses, and changes; it’s extremely spectacular.”
60
Regardless of sporting quantity 79 all through his time at USC, it was introduced that Jonah Monheim will likely be taking the quantity 60 jersey with the Jaguars. He turns into simply the fifth participant in workforce historical past to put on that quantity, following within the footsteps of at the very least one Jaguars legend…
The primary 60 for the Jaguars was Mike Brewster, an undrafted free agent middle from Ohio State in 2012, Brewster managed to remain on the roster for 2 years, taking part in in 26 video games with the Jags and beginning 10. A fractured ankle ended his time in Duval County, and regardless of stops with the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints by no means performed within the NFL once more. Essentially the most well-known Jaguar ever to put on the quantity 60 was guard AJ Cann, who spent seven years in Jacksonville, taking part in 111 video games between 2015 and 2021 – unbelievable manufacturing from a third spherical decide.
After Cann left for the Houston Texans in 2022, Darryl Williams picked up the jersey. His longevity was the whole reverse to his predecessor, with the middle suiting up simply as soon as and taking part in three snaps on particular groups. He frolicked on the observe squad earlier than being waived throughout roster cuts forward of final season. The final particular person to put on the quantity 60 was guard Dieter Eiselen, who was signed to the workforce in November and waived in March with out ever taking part in a sport.
If Monheim can come even near having a profession like AJ Cann did, then James Gladstone will likely be thought of a draft genius.