Vince Marrow Accurately Predicted Luke Fortner to Jacksonville

Vince Marrow can share his favorite line with Luke Fortner, “I told you so.”

At the end of Fortner’s 2020 campaign, the offensive guard did not even think the NFL was a possibility. After a Super Senior season at center on the Big Blue Wall, he was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first pick of the third round. The phone call came as a surprise to Luke, but Vince knew it all along.

“Vince told me back at Pro Day, ‘Bro, you’re going to go with the first pick in the third round to the Jaguars.’ I’m like, alright Vince, whatever,” Fortner told KSR. “I figured he was just blowing smoke, but he was right.”

Even though Marrow shared that message to Fortner more than a month before the NFL Draft, the three-time UK graduate did not have high expectations entering the weekend. Instead of getting his hopes up for a potential Friday night disappointment, he was mentally prepared to wait until Saturday to hear his name called.

“I was talking to my agent and there was a chance for Friday, but it’s probably going to be Saturday, so don’t get too excited,” Fortner said. “His words were, ‘Make sure your phone is on.’ When I got it (the call), I was like, ‘Oh f***. This is actually happening.'”

Jaguars Hall of Fame offensive lineman Tony Boselli announced the pick, one Jacksonville hopes can transform into Trevor Lawrence‘s starting center for years to come.

Fortner Position Change Changes Grades

Fortner’s academic exploits are well documented. This week he’ll graduate with an MBA, his third degree from the University of Kentucky. For most of his football career, he envisioned a life after football beginning relatively soon in the field of engineering. Professional football did not enter the picture until recently.

“Honestly, only until last year. Last year once Covid hit and they said you can have another year. I had finished all the engineering stuff, so I was done with all of the hard stuff. Well, maybe I’ll take some easier classes. No offense to the business majors at UK, but they’re a little easier than engineering classes, and maybe I could just spend some time on football. Drake (Jackson) kind of convinced me that I had a chance.”

The former Kentucky center pitched a position switch for Fortner, Luke took it and ran with it to the head coach. The plan worked so well that some NFL scouts at the Senior Bowl had to issue an apology.

“After the season I got the call from the Senior Bowl,” Fortner recalled. “They said. ‘We’re just basing it off last year’s film. We went back and watched your new film and it’s night and day.’ A couple of scouts at the Senior Bowl told me, ‘We’re going to re-grade you. We had you at the wrong spot. Sorry, we’ll get it fixed.'”

Sunburnt and Teal

The Jaguars became a potential landing spot for Fortner when veteran center Brandon Linder announced his retirement after eight seasons in Jacksonville. Searching for stability in front of Trevor Lawrence, Fortner has the size, tape and demeanor that make it the perfect fit.

“I think it’s a really good fit,” he said. “They got a ton of potential. You can tell they want to win by the way they spend money and get guys off free agency and get guys like Trevor Lawrence. Obviously, having Josh (Allen) there will be really fun.”

It might be a great fit, but has Luke thought about what Trevor Lawrence’s hands will feel like on his butt?

“No, but a lot of people have already asked me that question, so I guess everyone else has?”

There is one thing that will not fit Fortner well: teal in the Florida sun. The splashy color isn’t exactly filling the fair skinned Fortner’s current wardrobe. Adjusting to the heat and UV rays will take some time for the Northern Ohio native.

“Those first couple days are going to be brutal. My mom already went out and bought a bunch of sunscreen for me.”

He’ll report to rookie minicamp May 12. Familiar with his new home, Fortner is 1-1 in Gator Bowls at TIAA Bank Field.