What Have the Jaguars Seen in Rookie Pass-Rusher Yasir Abdullah?

Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Yasir Abdullah isn't like many other players at the position. 

The No. 136 pick in this year's draft, the fifth-round rookie from Louisville brings blinding speed and unmatched versatility. But he also brings it in a 6-foot-1 frame, which is just in the 2nd percentile among all outside linebackers in NFL history. 

Despite Abdullah lacking prototypical size or length, the explosive pass-rusher landed on the Jaguars radar in a big way this spring. Now, he is potentially weeks away from carving out a key role on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

"Yeah, he does have a unique skill set. And I do think he's a changeup. I know Mike feels the same way about it. And so do I. Obviously, the stature, the size of the guy is different than some of the guys we have," Jaguars outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey said at the end of the offseason program. 

"But he is a powerful guy, even though he's, you know, not the tallest guy, not the biggest guy, but he's powerful. But that's that you don't really get to see that in the spring, because you're not in pads. But what you do see is you do see the speed, you do see the ability for him to turn the edge and the top corner of the pocket in the rush."

In five years at Louisville, Abdullah appeared in 60 games and started 40, recording 208 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections, and three interceptions.

Abdullah appeared in 11 games and recorded eight tackles as a true freshman in 2018 before seeing an expanded role in 2019. Starting seven games and appearing in 12, Abdullah recorded 43 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one pass deflection, and one interception.

Abdullah led Louisville in forced fumbles in 2020, recording 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles. He was then named second-team All-ACC in 2021 after he led the team in tackles for loss and sacks, recording 51 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and three pass breakups.

Abdullah returned to school in 2022, starting all 13 games and being named first-team All-ACC as he led the team in tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (9.5), forced fumbles (four) and also recorded six pass breakups and two interceptions.

"What I'm really impressed about is how he applies himself and how hard he works not just on the field, but off the field," Shuey said. "He's consistent, he's always got good questions. He's wired in pretty good. He's working hard on the mental part of the game right now."

What the next step for Abdullah is comes down to what he does in training camp. Will he be a special teams player and a defensive reserve? Can he find snaps with the nickel defense, helping to replace Arden Key?

That answer isn't known yet. But soon, it will be.

I think that's that's yet to be determined. Watching somebody move around out here in just helmets or at some point in time without even helmets, you know. And then watching it in full pads, when the offensive line is taking sets and punching and grabbing and all that stuff and in the run game too," Shuey said. 

"You'd like to think that he can contribute at some point in time, but again, that's going to gotta be earned. And that's where we're trying to create competition in that room where you know, guys feel that and it has gotta bring out the best. Iron sharpens iron. I believe that and I do believe that some of that has to be earned. And those guys got to put it on film when we go out to practice in training camp, when we go to one on ones, when we play preseason games, you know, when travel you know, in the preseason to go against different teams. The tape is going to have to tell that story."