Lonnie Pryor has spent much of his life filling holes. Now, he is attempting to make an NFL career out of opening them.
After he wasn’t selected in April’s NFL draft, Pryor was quickly signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Okeechobee High School star is now competing to become the team’s starting fullback.
“I’m not on the team yet, but it’s a great opportunity to be here and be around NFL veterans,” Pryor said. “I’m not the biggest fullback, so I have to work harder on the field to improve my technique and watch more film than my opponents.”
Pryor was recruited as a running back after rushing for 2,281 yards and 20 touchdowns his senior season at Okeechobee. As a freshman at Florida State, he was moved to fullback — a decision that didn’t sit well with him at first.
However, Pryor eventually bought into the idea of spending more time opening holes than running through them. As a senior, he played a critical role in a Seminoles offense that ran for more than 200 yards a game and set a program record of 40 rushing TDs.
Pryor, listed by the Jaguars as 6 feet and 224 pounds, also contributed in the ground game his final season in Tallahassee. He ran 47 times for 376 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
“He can run, he can catch, he can block, he can be a team leader, and he affects the guys around him in a positive way,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said.
Pryor’s versatility caught the attention of several NFL teams, including Jacksonville, which brought him in as one of two fullbacks on the roster. The other, Will Ta’ufo’ou, is entering his fifth season in the league, though last year was the first time he got on the field, playing in six games for the Jaguars.
First-year Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley said he’s open to the idea of keeping both fullbacks when a series of mandatory cuts trims the roster to 53 players on Aug. 31.
“We do like Lonnie. We like Will as well,” Bradley said. “I think the big thing is do they also add special teams value? That would be the big thing — if they could help us on special teams.”
During the final day of training camp Thursday, Pryor made a terrific catch in the open field a few plays after holding up well in pass protection.
Jogging off the practice field, which is adjacent to EverBank Field, Pryor flashed his infectious trademark smile — a grin that Chris Branham, Pryor’s coach at Okeechobee, said is impossible to miss.
“Lonnie has that charisma in a way that he just lights up a room when he enters,” Branham said.
Branham coached Pryor for four seasons at Okeechobee. Pryor twice earned 4A All-State honors and piled up scholarship offers. But even more impressive to Branham is the way Pryor conducts himself off the field, living to better the lives of others.
“Lonnie enjoys being able to connect with people or go make a difference in a children’s hospital and build relationships with kids,” Branham said. “They don’t come any better than Lonnie.”
To Pryor, visiting with kids who are missing parents or dealing with poor health is the right thing to do.
“All you have to do is give them a smile or shake their hand to make their day better, or even their year,” said Pryor, who won several leadership and community service awards in college.
That mind-set has made him well-liked at every stop in his career. Although Pryor no longer receives the same accolades he once did, he’s content to help pave the way for others to succeed — on and off the field.
“As a fullback, if you made a nice block or laid a block to help score a run, you know you did your job,” Pryor said. “That’s all I need. As long as I’m doing my job and helping my team win, that’s what I need.”
About the Author
