Getting to know: Gregory Junior

JACKSONVILLE – You might only be familiar with the Ouachita Baptist Tigers since the Jaguars selected safety Gregory Junior in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft in April, but the NFL has long known of the small school in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Dallas Cowboys invited Cliff Harris to camp in 1970 and the move rewarded them with a Hall-of-Fame safety who teamed with Charlie Waters to form one of the best safety tandems in NFL history. So, while it may seem like a reach to dig for talent in an out-of-the way location, it does not to NFL scouts – and it certainly does not to Junior, who as the first Ouachita Tiger ever drafted has his eyes focused firmly on proving he belongs. Jaguars.com senior correspondent Brian Sexton caught up with Junior recently in 2022 Training Camp.

How has the transition been from Ouachita Baptist to the NFL?

I played football all my life and I’ve never shied away from the competition. It was kind of fast at first – it’s a pretty big step up – but once I learned the playbook and got my feet out here on the grass, it felt normal. Football is football. I know how to line up and cover a wide receiver. I’ve always known how to do that. There is a lot to learn but I feel like I belong because I’ve always belonged on the football field. I’m learning every day and I feel like I’m getting better every day and that’s my goal.

What’s the biggest adjustment for someone coming from a small school?

The hardest part is really just the terminology. In a small school, Division II, we only have a few calls. Up here, there are lots of calls and checks and adjustments and you don’t just have to know them, you have to really understand what’s going on around you. It’s a lot of work, but once again, it’s football and I’ve played football and understood the game all my life. I can handle the adjustments. Coming from a DII, it’s a lot to take in. We had good trainers and coaches at Ouachita Baptist, so I have always felt like I had a good support system…