DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ANTHONY CAMPANILE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025
(On DT DaVon Hamilton) “I think D-Ham’s [DT DaVon Hamilton] doing a great job. He is
working really hard. He’s a total pro. A veteran that young guys could look up to because he
comes to work. He’s a lunch pail guy. He comes to work, he does his job every day. Gives us
everything he’s got. I think he’s had a really good camp so far, so I’m really excited about it.
He’s a great guy, really. He’s a great dude to coach.”
(On what he thinks of the defense after the first two practices in pads) “I think today, we
practiced a little bit more physical on our side. I thought we were communicating well,
flying around. To me, it’s always about the play style, how you’re playing on defense. I think
we’re trending the right way but there’s a lot of work to do. To answer your question, what I
do like is the physicality today, and we’re starting to get a good culture in our room.”
(On what he’s seen out of CB Jarrian Jones recently) “He’s a great competitor. He really
works hard to play with technique. I think he did a great job in the spring, and then he really
worked. He’s one of the guys who really worked hard in the summer, was with a lot of the
guys on the team, working technique, studying, so he came back to camp really ready to
go. I see a lot of the drill work he’s doing every day is showing up now. The muscle memory
is starting to set in, and he’s really playing with good technique. It is starting to show up in
all the one-on-one work and team periods.”
(On his relationship with Jones) “I love coaching that guy. We have a great group of guys
here. They’re easy guys to coach, and they’re giving us everything we’re talking about.
They’re running to the ball. They’re attacking the ball, so I think those things always should
be celebrated and I think that says a lot about the type of kid he is and the way that he
plays. He’s going to give you everything he’s got until the end of the play, so I think that was
awesome that he was rewarded on that.”
(On if the defense is ahead of schedule) “No. I think we’re right about where we thought
we’d be. Got a lot of work to do, but the guys are really putting in a lot of great work. In the
meetings, they’re locked in. When you’re up in front of the room looking at them,
everybody’s locked in. Everybody’s really detailed. They’re trying to do it out here on the
field. Obviously, when we go into live work, but even in the walk throughs, they’re really
doing a good job communicating and playing with good technique in the walk through,
good body position. So, to me, that’s really what we’re looking for and they’re giving us
that.”
(On if he has any reservations about the defense currently) “No. I just think we have to keep
doing what we’re doing. We have to keep playing, with a lot of passion and a lot of great
communication every day. As long as we do that, I think we’re going to be on course for
where we’d like to be.”
(On what he likes about S Antonio Johnson) “There’s a lot to like. He’s a big athlete, covers a
lot of ground. He’s got good range, and he’s physical. He’s done a really good job studying.
He’s become a very good communicator for us, so I’m pleased with his effort and how his
camp’s gone so far.”
(On the progression of LB Jack Kiser) “I think he’s doing a really good job. He’s a mature guy.
I think he was really well coached in college, to be honest with you. He’s got a very good
football intelligence, and he asks great questions in the room as well. He’s been a good
communicator, and he’s a hungry guy. So, I think that usually leads to a guy who’s going to
progress along quickly, and we’re very excited about him too. I think he’s done a good job in
camp so far.”
(On how DT Arik Armstead can help the team’s outside pass rushers) “I think when you’re
talking about pass rush, maybe the forgotten thing or the least talked about thing in all of
pass rush is middle push. You really have to have a guy who can close the pocket and
generate middle push. Get the quarterback off the spot. A lot of those great inside rushes
kind of master in that. They can execute the games well, but when they’re in a one-on-one,
they can collapse the pocket and Arik’s done that over his career, so that’s always a big
help for edge rushers.”
(On the absence of DT Arik Armstead in team drills) “I think everybody, we all need the work
out there, playing, but as soon as he gets out there, it’s going to be a big help to us. So,
we’re excited about getting Arik back out there for sure.”
(On if DT Arik Armstead will increase reps throughout camp) “I would think so. Yeah.”
(On how WR/DB Travis Hunter looked on defense) “As we all know, he’s a great athlete but
you see him doing the extra work out here with Coach Milus [Secondary Coach Ron Milus]
and Coach Perkins [Defensive Backs Coach Anthony Perkins]. So, he’s really taking
advantage of the meeting time and the on-field time with those guys. I call them the feet
meets or the walk throughs. He’s really doing a great job focusing, and then you see his
athleticism. He’s able to make plays on the ball out here, so that gets everybody excited,
but really pleased with Travis and the effort he’s given. Obviously, doing this from both sides
of the ball.”
(On the energy and conditioning of WR/DB Travis Hunter) “He is in incredible shape. He
really is a really well conditioned athlete. I can admire that because I’m struggling out here
everyday. It is super impressive, though. Man, he can go all day.”
(On what Hunter does for depth in the secondary) “That’s super encouraging. Obviously,
anytime you get a great athlete like that out there, you’re really excited, but it’s just the work
he’s done. That’s what really gets us excited because he’s working double time, and he’s
done an awesome job with it.”
(On what he’s seen out of the safety position so far) “I just think there are a lot of guys who
are putting in great work. I think Dewey’s [S Andrew Wingard] doing a great job. I think
Antonio [S Antonio Johnson] is doing a great job. Sav’s [S Darnell Savage] done a great job
when he’s out there. Obviously, Eric [S Eric Murray] has great command back there as well,
but we’ve had a bunch of guys going through there, and they’re all really doing a good job.
As you start to get into third down and two-minute, having DBs out there that are good
communicators and can make plays on the ball for you, which we’ve all seen to this point,
that’s really exciting.”
(On what he’s seen from DB Caleb Ransaw) “Yeah. Caleb’s another guy, I think he’s got
great feet. I’ve said that before. He is a guy who’s been studying really, really hard. I think he
did a good job in the summer to be able to come in and hit the ground running. He’s another
guy who I would say, I talked about Jack [LB Jack Kiser] before, but I think he’s got really
good maturity. I think I said this the last time I was up here, when we were talking about
him, he was well-coached in college. He was. He’s got really good fundamentals. He’s
another guy who’s got range and can make plays on the ball, so that’s been exciting
watching him as well.”
(On the depth on the interior defensive line with DT Maason Smith’s injury and his thoughts
on DT Arik Armstead) “Yeah, I think the guys that have been in there have been doing a good
job, and the silver lining is those guys get a lot more work in camp, and it helps them get
better. But when we get Maason out there and Arik back out there, I think that’s going to be
a really big shot in the arm for us.”
LINEBACKER FOYESADE OLUOKUN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2025
(On how the start of training camp has been) “It’s cool. I was thinking mid-practice out
there, hot as heck. I was like, wow, what a blessing to be out here. I’m just having so much
fun. Obviously, it’s a grind, and it sucks, and it hurts, but where else would I rather be?
Cliché, just getting better and playing football. I’ve got a chance this year to right my wrongs
from last year, and in terms of, if you want to call this work, what other job would I rather be
doing? Out here trying to get better every day. Cliché, but that’s really what went through
my mind, and not got me through practice, but helped me keep getting better at practice.”
(On how his mindset has changed over the last few years in Jacksonville) “When I first got
here, everything was exciting. It was new. We had the same opportunity as kind of this year
coming in, proving people wrong and stuff. I feel like we got some of that chip back. We got
a new staff, we got some new players. Let’s show the people who we want to be, who we
are as Jaguars, as this team. Take the name off the front of the jersey, everybody in the
building, I rock with. Us 11 on defense all fighting together, whatever name we’ve got on, I
like what we’re doing out there communicating as one.”
(On if it was needed for the team to get their chip back) “Yeah. For sure. Obviously, last year
did not go great. It’s easy to get down on yourself, kind of get through. That’s a toxic mindset
of football there, and we got through the season abysmally. So, come back this season, try
to right our wrongs and let’s get out on the right foot.”
(On seeing LB Ventrell Miller’s growth) “It’s exciting, because he’s an explosive player, hard
hitter, great energy guy. So, if he’s confident in what he’s doing out there, now he can just
play football and make those kind of splash plays that he always makes. It’s really cool to
see him fit runs, get back in coverage, make the right communication is what I love the
most. But just grow as a football player into a real pro, taking care of his body, speaking to
me like a veteran more. It’s really exciting.”
(On being coached by Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile) “Very energetic. He’ll
pick you right up. Talking about that ‘don’t get down on yourself.” It’s early in the morning
already hot and he’s talking about how we need to do better than yesterday. So, you don’t
want to let him down because you know he’s going to call you out on it. I like that mentality.
I think a defense or a team kind of takes a little bit of the personality of a coach, and I’ve
said that many times. I like the personality he brings to the building.”
(On training in Colorado with teammates) “It’s hot, though. I’ve got the lung capacity,
though. I don’t have to bring out my emergency inhaler. I’m joking with you, but it was cool.
It was cool to get with some teammates out there, too. Kind of push ourselves out there.
Even Chad [LB Chad Muma] with his little club he’s got on right now, he was still working
every day. It was cool to kind of push each other along and wake up early in the mornings to
get grinding. Colorado doesn’t get to 500 degrees in the afternoon, so we’re still working in
the afternoons, whatever we need to do. So, it was cool.”
(On if he feels that he’s back in his natural position) “I’m a football player. Whatever the
coach needs. But I like what I’m doing right now. It’s all about being in the right spot,
trusting the defense, trusting my guys around me. I feel good where I’m at. Obviously, I can
keep cleaning stuff up and get better, break on the ball better, but I like where I’m at.”
(On if the communication from the defense has felt different this year) “I think, one, it’s
from everybody knowing what everybody is supposed to do. That’s echoed across the
whole defense. Sometimes, the safety will come to me and say, ‘This guy, I thought he went
out, but he ended up going vertical. So you’re supposed to have this on this play.’ Maybe
two years ago, a safety might not know that, what I’m supposed to do on the whole
backside of a play. So, it’s cool to be able to communicate all across the whole 11, or a
little stunt, he turned out, you’re supposed to be underneath that block. Now I know exactly
what everybody’s supposed to do, and it helps you be in the right spot because I can trust
that he knows he’s going to be in the right spot, too.”
(On if knowing the ‘why’ of a play is a theme of the team’s communication) “I think relatively
keeping things in pattern. So, no matter the route combination, no matter the coverage call,
kind of being able to relate it to this call, to that call. Keeping things in pattern keeps things
simpler in the mind if that makes sense. You talk about smart players, it’s probably players
who have been doing the same pattern a long time. They can know to anticipate. I think
everybody being able to communicate makes everybody play a little bit faster.”
(On having open communication and honesty between coaches and players) “I like it. Not
everybody grew up the same way. I was raised very tough. You did something wrong, you
were going to hear about it right then and there. You’ve got to correct it. No ifs, ands or buts.
Some people might have inched along, and they’ve been talented or whatever, so they
might’ve gotten away with it. Being able to be challenged right then and there and knowing
that it’s not a personal attack helps you grow as a person as well. I’m not saying I’m the
best person in the world, but it helps you be able to communicate the same language no
matter the tone. You’re hearing the words instead.”
(On the theme for the defense this year) “Stop the run. We’ve got a lot of themes, man. Stop
the run first, limit big plays and then create takeaways. But it all starts with stopping the
run. Making the quarterback throw the ball, that’s when a lot of takeaways happen. The
quarterback turns the ball over the most, so if you don’t stop the run, they’re going to keep
running it.”
(On DT Arik Armstead moving back inside and how that can impact the linebackers) “He’s a
guy that a lot of offensive lines respect as well so he gets more attention, which makes my
job easier, maybe flowing over the top or I know they’re hanging on that double team, being
able to shoot a gap. So, I like that aspect of it. Obviously, he’s a vet, so he knows what to do
with his body. He’s somebody you don’t really have to worry about being ready every
Sunday, I feel like. He’s going to bring it, and then we’re going to play off of him.”
(On cheering on his teammates and being a leader) “I just think no matter how you feel, you
can’t be ‘sometime-y.’ There are going to be ebbs and flows of practice, ebbs and flows of a
game, but if somebody makes a play, if they don’t feel like it’s rewarded and celebrated,
then they don’t feel as juiced when they make it. They don’t want to make it as much. You
celebrate every play that you make. The whole team wants to make plays with you, and
then they’re going to cheer for me when I make a play. I just think it’s the camaraderie of a
defense, the brotherhood of a defense. You can show it in practice or on the field by really
how you’re cheering for your boys when they make a play, no matter who it is.”
(On not making the NFL Top 100 and if he feels snubbed) “No. We had a bad year last year. I
can’t lie to you. Sometimes I feel like people are gifted the Top 100 because of who they
are, and I’ve never been one of those guys to have been fortunate to have been high drafted
or in a high market with a high win percentage. Obviously, we made the playoffs one year
and I led the league in tackles a whole bunch, but I did not make the list. I just add that as
fuel to the fire, but unfortunately, last year, injuries and I didn’t play to my potential. It’s a
blessing every time. It’s a blessing. I want to make it, I want to be the best out there and I
work to be the best out there, but if I don’t do it, then shoot that’s what it is. Obviously, it’s a
goal, but I think team defense is going to help more of us get on there, more wins are going
to help more of us get on there. They’re going to reward me when I earn it. They’re not going
to gift it to me and I never had that in my career.”
(On how he feels about Campanile’s defense for himself specifically) “There’s a lot of
opportunity for me, getting my eyes back to the ball. Kind of what I grew up in a little bit in
my first three years in Atlanta, where I felt like more of a playmaker. I had some good years
there. Trusting what my boys now know to do so I can really trust my breaks on the ball and
go get the ball. Even when the running back has the ball, being able to punch it back
because I know where the help tackle is coming from, the vice tackles. Then when we’re
running other defenses, it’s not that old [Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach] Pete Carroll type
defense. Understanding that my safeties know what they’re doing, where they are in the run
fits. Understanding when I can play low, when I have to carry high. It’s really cool for me. I
like it.”
(On how much defenders knowing their assignments helps) “I think it’s so important for the
whole defense to know what everybody’s doing. When you have trusted people behind you,
it’s really cool. I’m seeing the growth that we take as a whole defense and the growth that
I’m taking as a player just playing my play. I remember Coach Caldwell [former Defensive
Coordinator Mike Caldwell] called me an eraser way back in the day and sometimes that
hurts you because you’re trying to make sure everybody else is right. Obviously, I’m around
the ball every play, but I can just trust my play, and if the ball gets funneled back to me,
staying in my gap, then I feel like I can make even more splash plays. I think them knowing
what they’re doing helps me out even more. Maybe they can communicate something I’m
not even seeing.”
(On WR/DB Travis Hunter switching between offense and defense) “The conditioning and
energy is crazy and that’s just who he is. He always has high energy. Obviously, you’ve got
to grow as a—he’s a young guy. So, whatever he’s running into out there, I’m not with him all
hours of the day. Just being able to keep taking coaching from other players, from your
coaches, and keep growing as a player. I think the more plays that he plays, the more he’s
going to keep growing and say, ‘What should I do now? What should I do now?’ It’ll be cool
to see how he takes off and the player he can develop into.”
