During the seventh day of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ training camp in Jacksonville, Florida, linebacker Brian Thomas Jr. shared his perspectives on the rigorous practices underway. His comments provide a firsthand look into the demanding preparations shaping the team ahead of the coming season, highlighting the focus and energy that define the Brian Thomas Jr. training camp experience.
Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile Praises Travon Walker’s Leadership
Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile spoke highly of edge rusher Travon Walker, emphasizing both his abilities as a player and his character. Campanile described Walker as “a great player, obviously,” who also brings exceptional leadership qualities that resonate throughout the team’s locker room. According to Campanile, Walker is universally respected and admired by coaches and teammates alike for his positive energy and dedication.
“He’s a great player, obviously, but, I said this the last time I talked to you guys. He’s a great person. He’s got a lot of leadership qualities. I don’t think there’s anybody in the building that doesn’t genuinely love the guy. He’s just a great human being, got a great energy about him. It’s credit to everyone that raised him because, he’s the type of guy you love to coach him. Teammates love playing with him and his coaches love coaching him.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
Campanile expanded on how Walker’s strong presence benefits the team culture, explaining that the energy brought by top players directly influences the entire building’s atmosphere, both on offense and defense.
“What I think is when some of your best players are your best leaders, and the best people, that’s a great thing, because that’s what sets the culture of every building. The guys are going to follow the guys, who bring that energy, and he brings a positive energy. I think it’s, obviously, an overall net positive for the entire building, offense and defense, to have a guy like that.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
Background and Expectations for Travon Walker’s Impact
Campanile also shared insights on what he knew about Walker’s potential before joining the Jaguars, citing connections with coaches from Georgia and praising Walker’s consistent drive and seriousness about the game. He recalled hearing from legendary defensive line coach Pete Jenkins about Walker’s commitment during his college career, reinforcing expectations about his growth.
“I did, because just knowing Trey Scott at Georgia a little bit and some of the people, you know, we kind of run-in the same circles, coaches, and some other coaches. I know I remember Pete Jenkins who’s kind of a legendary d line [Defensive Line] coach going down there and, had worked with him at Georgia and talking about him way back when he was in college. Just the type of guy, he is always serious, driven, and wanting to be great. So that was really what I knew of Travon, and all that’s been true.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
Addressing whether Walker’s quiet demeanor affects his leadership role, Campanile clarified that while Walker may not be the most vocal player, his words carry significant weight when he does speak.
“No. No. I don’t think so at all. I think when he speaks, people listen. And there’s a lot to that when somebody, who maybe people perceive isn’t that vocal, which he is. He’s vocal in the building. But when he speaks, it means something to the guys on the team and people listen.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
Walker’s Potential and Daily Commitment Highlighted by Coaching Staff
Campanile expressed enthusiasm for Walker’s future, emphasizing the player’s enormous potential and dedication to daily improvement. He described Walker’s focus during drills as intense and unwavering, underscoring the positive influence the edge rusher brings to every practice and, ultimately, every game.
“I mean, he’s got a ton of potential. Sky’s the limit for him. And it’s just like every other position, every other guy doing it every day, every play. That’s really what sets the tone for what you’re going to do out there every day. And I think , out there on Sunday, I should say. But he’s a guy who brings it every play every day. You watch him drill work. I mean, he’s locked in, laser focused, so I’m excited for him, excited for what he’s going to do this year.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
The coach also affirmed his excitement about integrating Walker into the team’s defensive system, acknowledging how the presence of a talented player can elevate the coaching approach and overall team performance.
“Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. When you know there’s a guy like that, it’s an exciting thing. Coaches get a lot smarter when you got good players.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
Campanile Reflects on Early Practice Challenges and Team Discipline
After two days of camp practices, Campanile acknowledged the usual early mistakes but highlighted the importance of focused repetition and consistency. He emphasized how the team’s players have embraced shouting the same terminology and messages to build muscle memory and improve cohesiveness on the field.
“I mean, like, usually, like, any year in camp, you got some of those early mistakes, and camp is a great thing because you kind of just get locked away. You do football for quite a while here, and you really have a singular focus. What it takes to get better at football is playing football, so you need constant repetition. It’s all about muscle memory and seeing things over and over and over again, talking about things, in a consistent way, saying things the same way. So we hear them the same way all the time. That’s really, as a coach, I think the biggest challenge in camp. Everybody’s speaking the same language, and everybody driving the same points home and being honest. You have to be honest. So, our guys have done a great job with that to this point. Obviously, it’s two days, but they’re doing a really good job and hopefully continue to get better.”
—Anthony Campanile, Defensive Coordinator
Looking Ahead: What Brian Thomas Jr. and the Jaguars Aim to Achieve
As reflected in Brian Thomas Jr.’s observations and Campanile’s detailed remarks, the Jaguars are immersing themselves in a highly disciplined and energetic training camp environment. The combination of emerging leaders like Travon Walker and focused practices aims to strengthen the team’s competitive edge for the upcoming season. With daily improvements and the collective effort of coaches and players, Jacksonville is preparing to raise its performance standard and chase greater success on the field.