Everything You Need to Know About New Jaguars Starting Quarterback Jake Luton
Jacksonville Jaguars fans, meet Jake Luton.
With starting quarterback Gardner Minshew battling a thumb injury, Luton — a sixth-round pick from Oregon State — will lead the Jacksonville Jaguars out onto the field in Week 9.
Here is everything football fans need to know about the Jaguars’ newest starting quarterback.
Jake Luton played at Idaho and Oregon State
Originally from Marysville, Wash., Jake Luton signed with the University of Idaho in 2014.
After he redshirted as a freshman, Luton completed 63.8% of his passes for 403 yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions in 2015.
Luton then transferred to Ventura College, a California junior college. Although he only hit 56.5% of his 462 attempts, Luton threw for 3,551 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
Luton transferred to Oregon State after the season. Although Luton started Oregon State’s first four games in 2017, he suffered a back injury that prematurely ended his season.
Luton completed 62.5% of his passes for 1,660 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions across eight games in 2018.
Then came Luton’s breakout campaign last year, when the sixth-year senior completed an even 62% of his passes for 2,714 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only three interceptions.
Jacksonville drafted Luton in April
Jake Luton’s impressive final season at Oregon State helped him climb up draft boards.
During the pre-draft process, NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein praised Luton’s ball-control and ability to make “pro throws.”
Zierlein compared Luton to Davis Webb, a former standout quarterback at the University of California and currently a reserve in Buffalo.
“Luton is an intriguing developmental quarterback with good size, adequate accuracy and an NFL arm. He’s operated in a pro-style passing attack with plenty of play-action and has the ability to push the ball into space both intermediate and deep. He values the football with few fumbles and interceptions during his career, but he’s more of a “ball delivery” passer than one who works through progressions and picks the defense apart.”
Jacksonville used the 189th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft on Luton, who turned 24 in April. Luton and Mike Glennon, a longtime NFL backup, sat behind Gardner Minshew for the season’s first seven games.
Jake Luton will make his NFL debut in Week 9
Jake Luton’s days of sitting on the bench are over, at least for now.
Gardner Minshew is currently battling a thumb injury, so he is out for at least Week 9. Jacksonville named Luton its starting quarterback for the home game against the Houston Texans.
It is not known when Minshew will return to the lineup. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone previously put Minshew on notice after his poor play in October.
Jacksonville has lost six straight games after upsetting Philip Rivers and the Colts in Week 1.
Fantasy football fans wanting to take a chance on Luton need not rush. Luton was available in 99.5% of ESPN’s fantasy leagues at publication.
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