Tag: Jonah Jackson

Detroit Lions draft guard Logan Stenberg in fourth round, out of Kentucky

Nasty on the field, a gentleman off the field. It’s a perfect combination for an NFL offensive lineman. 

Meet guard Logan Stenberg.

The Detroit Lions added another big body to the offensive line by drafting Stenberg with the 121st overall pick in the fourth round on Saturday afternoon.

Stenberg, who is 6-6 and 315 pounds, calls himself a blue-collar guy, a hard-working individual.

Certainly his nasty streak is one of his many assets.

“I grew up with three older brothers, so I was the youngest of all four, growing up I had to fight for everything whether it was food or my place in line,’’ Stenberg said on a conference call on Saturday. “I grew up with that nastiness. I had to fight for what I want. It carried over to football.

“I think you could ask most of my teammates I’m very different on and off the field. Off the field I’m a very respectful fun guy, on the field it’s all business and I want to end the guy across from me every play,’’ Stenberg added.

He started 39 straight games at left guard for the Wildcats but is open to all possibilities in Detroit. 

“I think I can play any position on the offensive line, i plan to play wherever coach Patricia needs me the most,’’ Stenberg said.

He played in the Senior Bowl which gave the Lions coaching staff a chance to get to know him.

“I thought the Senior Bowl was great for me personally, because I got to spend some time around the coaching staff, seeing how they do things, what they value, getting a feel for it before I get it up to Detroit,’’ Stenberg said.

He spent this weekend on his parents’ 150-acre farm in southern Tennessee where they raise Charolais cattle.

“We’re out here, kind of isolated, watching the ticker waiting for my name to be called,’’ Stenberg said. “I couldn’t be happier to be going to Detroit.’’

He was asked if he was familiar with Larry Warford, another Kentucky offensive lineman.

Stenberg referred to him as Mr. Warford, possibly a first.

In the third round on Friday night, the Lions drafted guard Jonah Jackson out of Ohio State who also played in the Senior Bowl.

Detroit Lions trade up to draft guard Jonah Jackson in third round

The Lions traded up in the third round to draft guard Jonah Jackson out of Ohio State with the 75th overall pick.

Jackson is the second Ohio State Buckeye drafted by the Lions in their first four picks. Cornerback Jeff Okudah was selected in the first round. 

“He’s a brother, he’s a fellow Buckeye. We had a good rapport the short time I was there, a great dude and a great competitor that I’m ready to go to war with,’’ Jackson said about Okudah on a conference call on Friday night.

Detroit traded picks 85, 149 and 182 to the Indianapolis Colts for picks 75 and 197 to move up to grab Jackson, who is 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds. The Lions coached Jackson during the Senior Bowl where they got to know each other. Still he didn’t know if they would draft him. 

He played his first four years at Rutgers and then for his final year of eligibility he went to Ohio State to compete for one of the four open starting jobs on the offensive line. He earned the left guard role, started 14 games and was named third-team Associated Press All-American and earned first-team All Big Ten honors. 

“I went to Ohio State just looking for opportunity, just to be able to showcase my ability and pounce on another platform,” Jackson said. “I felt like it definitely helped me – wherever I was I felt like coaches would be able to find me. But being able to go to Ohio State and hang the banner up in that indoor facility for a Big Ten Championship and being able to get the ring and the gold pants – it was awesome.”

Jackson could fill a need on the Lions’ offensive line with the departure of Graham Glasgow. Last season Glasgow rotated at right guard with Kenny Wiggins and Joe Dahl. 

Jackson was not at Ohio State when Lions left tackle Taylor Decker played there. 

In the second round on Friday night, the Lions drafted running back D’Andre Swift (Georgia). With their first pick in the third round (67th overall) they selected edge rusher Julian Okwara whose brother, Romeo, is a defensive end for the Lions.