Fournette helps out 2nd-rounder Chark

JACKSONVILLE — Before Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark arrived for rookie minicamp earlier this week, he already had a good idea how practices were going to be conducted and what would be a point of emphasis during team meetings.

It wasn’t coach Doug Marrone or receivers coach Keenan McCardell who gave Chark the heads-up. It was Leonard Fournette — his former LSU teammate and roommate — who has vowed to make sure the second-round pick’s NFL transition goes smoothly, especially during the team’s offseason program.

“He really stuck his neck out for me to get here and that’s something you expect as a brother,” Chark said. “I’m proud to be here.”

While he will learn the ropes from Fournette, the Jaguars think Chark has the potential to make an immediate impact as a downfieldthreat playmaker for quarterback Blake Bortles and as a punt returner. They like his 6-foot-3, 198-pound size and his speed — he ran the receivers’ fastest 40 time at the Scouting Combine at 4.34 seconds. Another strength is Chark’s downfield-blocking ability that the Jaguars hope will help create more space for Fournette to run, especially on sweep plays.

“Chark’s a specialteamer,” said Tom Coughlin, the Jaguars executive vice president of football operations. “You have the benefit that he’s also a very good blocker so you have a wide receiver that would stick his nose inside and be a good blocker in front of the ball and, of course, his association with Leonard. It’s strong and real.”

Immediately after the Jaguars drafted Chark as the 61st pick overall in the second round, Fournette was one of the first to call to congratulate him. Fournette also posted Chark’s selection on Twitter just before it was officially announced by the Jaguars. Chark and Fournette have been friends since high school and then attended LSU where there’s a tradition that the best playmaker on the team wears No. 7. Former LSU stars Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and Fournette had the number. It was passed on to Chark last season.