Haslam Keeping Busy During NFL Lockout

Jacksonville Jaguar and former Rutgers lineman Kevin Haslam feels the best way to pass the time during the NFL lockout is to keep busy. The former three-year starter will be back in New Jersey this week to take part in Mahwah High School’s summer camp and visit Rutgers.

For the first time since becoming a Scarlet Knight in 2005, Kevin Haslam has the chance to give back to Mahwah High School. The second-year offensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars has more free time on his hands thanks to the NFL lockout and will be on-hand for tomorrow’s camp.

Haslam said he plans to showcase some football drills for athletes between the ages of 8 and 14 and discuss his experiences at Rutgers and in the NFL.

“I wanted to get back there while I was at Rutgers, but it was too hard to schedule with classes and workouts and stuff,” Haslam said. “It’s good to finally get to go back and help out and give back. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while since I participated in that camp back in like 8th grade.”

Haslam plans to spend about a week in New Jersey before returning to Florida to work out. He said he will definitely visit come by Rutgers with the Schiano 7-on-7 Shootout and camp coming up within the week.

“It’s good to keep busy,” Haslam said. “It’s important to prevent myself from going insane during this waiting period. I’m working out in Florida and seeing some my teammates but a lot of them are older and have families of their own. I don’t have my family around, but I’m looking forward to some time with everyone in New Jersey.”

Recently completing his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Haslam played in five NFL games last season.

Playing in the AFC South gave Haslam extra appreciation for his situation, he said. He works out with former Rutgers teammate and current teammate Courtney Greene often in the offseason he said and is also happy to play with Tiquan Underwood. Both Greene and Underwood were seventh-round picks by the Jaguars in 2009.

With Jason McCourty and Kenny Britt on the Tennessee Titans and Eric Foster with the Indianapolis Colts, Haslam sees former Rutgers teammates on the field the majority of the season.

“It’s one of those “dream come true” type deals,” he said. “It was good experience and it’s what I was working for my whole life. It was a great year for me where I learned a lot.”

Haslam’s versatility, he said, is a major reason why he stuck with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. In his first mini-camp last season, Haslam said he worked at three different positions and feels comfortable at both tackle and guard.

Sound familiar?

“[Offensive line coach Kyle] Flood used to do that to me all the time and I was just like ‘come on,’” Haslam said. “There was that Army game my senior year where I think I played three positions. In retrospect, that helped me out a lot. It’s a blessing in disguise because it was tough at the time but it’s the main reason I’m here now.”

Flood, Haslam said, is one of the main reasons he made it to the NFL.

“I’m very thankful for everything he did because it gives me a big advantage now,” Haslam said. “Working with him and practicing with [Anthony Davis] every day, those are the two biggest reasons why I’m here now.”

Ask Haslam about the 61 sacks given up by the Rutgers offense last season and he is the first jump to Flood’s defense.

“I don’t see that as Coach Flood’s fault in any way,” Haslam said. “It’s ridiculous to blame just him for it. This is the same coach back when we were first and second in the country in sacks. We only gave up 18 in my first year as a starter and then jumped to 40-something the next year with the same line. Sometimes you can’t control these things.

“You can’t single out one person because it’s everybody’s fault. Maybe it was just one of those times? Who knows? He’s doing a great job and was a great coach for me.”