Jacksonville Jaguars Dawuane Smoot knew he was home after two big third-quarter plays

Dawuane Smoot really feels back home now.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ ninth-year veteran defensive end, who played for the Jags from 2017-2023 before leaving for the Buffalo Bills for one season, has expressed his joy for being back in Jacksonville, where he is starting the season backing up Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.

But Smoot might be playing a bigger role than a mere backup and got 35 snaps playing end and tackle during the Jaguars’ 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7 at EverBank Stadium, with one tackle and one assist.

Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot (98) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the third quarter of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium Sunday September 7, 2025. Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Both plays came back-to-back and they were huge, thwarting a third-quarter Panthers drive that had reached 1 yard shy of midfield.

Dawuane Smoot felt at home after making a play

Smoot said after the first play, a joint effort with cornerback Tyson Campbell to nail running back Rico Dowdle for no gain on a second-and-one at the Carolina 49, he heard something to make him realize his made the right decision in returning to Jacksonville.

“I make the first play and I heard that ‘Smoot [from the crowd and his teammates],’ and I was like, ‘oh yeah … I’m home,” he said on Sept. 8 at the Miller Electric Center.

He heard it even more on the next play. The Panthers went for it on fourth-and-one and Smoot was lined up inside, with Hines-Allen to his right. The two worked a stunt around Carolina left tackle Yosh Nijman, who couldn’t figure out who to block.

Left guard Damien Lewis also got left behind and Smoot was the first to reach Young, sacking him for a 12-yard loss to force a punt.

It was the only sack of the game for the Jaguars’ defense, which also came up with three turnovers and stopped the Panthers twice on fourth down.

“Emotions were high … I was nervous being back,” Smoot said. “It was just so great. I just thank Duval for embracing me with open arms.”

Smoot lauded the teamwork on both plays

On the play where he and Campbell stuffed Dowdle, Smoot was the end on the right side and Campbell was playing press coverage against wide receiver David Moore on the right. Smoot split tight end Tommy Tremble and Nijman, Campbell shot past Moore and both met Dowdle at the line of scrimmage.

The stunt he worked with Hines-Allen that led to the sack was a product of communication.

Jacksonville Jaguars Dawuane Smoot (58) before an NFL scrimmage at EverBank Stadium Friday August 1, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

“The whole focus is just to stay disciplined and be in the right place at the right time,” Smoot said. “Tyson hit [Dowdle] first and I ended up being in the right place at the right time. The sack … Josh and I communicated, and it worked perfectly. He just knew exactly what he needed to do, got in there and [it] all came together at the right time.”

Smoot compares the vibe to 2017

Yes, it’s only one game. But after a physical training camp under coach Liam Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, is Smoot feeling any vibes that resemble his rookie season in 2017, when he played 16 games in the Jaguars run to the AFC Championship game?

They were the “Sacksonville” days and Smoot was watching and learning from veterans such as Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson and Yannick Ngakoue.

“I will say it, for sure,” he said. “Just the consistency of how we’re showing up each and every day. Guys are ready to be here. They’re happy to be here. The energy as well, with the coaching staff, everybody’s ready to come together every day and just win, man. Just a winning mentality.”

After 2017, Smoot got more playing time and went on to post solid numbers. He had 22 sacks from 2019-2022 but missed the final two games of 2022 and the two playoff games because of an injury, then missed the first five games of the 2023 season while on the PUP list.

Dawuane Smoot praises young linemen

During that time, he developed a reputation as one of the best locker-room guys on the team and was active in the community. Smoot was the team’s NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2023 and has opened a private bilingual pre-kindergarten school near the University of North Florida, the Elsie Academy.

He’s also worked with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, Better Dads Society and the Jacksonville Arts and Music School; and participated in food distributions with local food banks and the annual “Shop with a Jaguar,” providing children from underserved areas of Jacksonville with a holiday shopping spree.

Nothing has changed in that regard and Smoot hopes to help young defensive linemen such as Danny Striggow, B.J. Green II and Maason Smith the same way players such as Campbell were his big influence.

Smoot said he has a special level of respect for Striggow and Green, who made the team as undrafted free agents.

“The two guys making the team both undrafted … that shows right there that they’re never afraid to work hard,” he said. “They’re eager to learn. B.J. came to me, literally the first day, and said, ‘Let me take that helmet,’ [rookies often carry the veterans’ helmets to the locker room after a training camp practice].’ He’s so eager to suck up every amount of information that we give them.”

Smoot also said Smith will be a factor on the team, despite being a healthy scratch in the first game.

“You can’t keep Maason off the field,” he said. “I feel like they’re going to make it really hard on the coaching staff each and every week, who’s going to be inactive, who’s going to be up. They’re going to have to find a way to get Maason on the field.”

But they might have to push Smoot off the field to get playing time. And he’s in the best shape of his life and in a good place back home in Duval.

“I definitely like the direction we’re going,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars D-lineman Dawaune Smoot embracing his second chance in Duval

Jacksonville Jaguars Dawuane Smoot knew he was home after two big third-quarter plays

Tags: