Myles Jack

Early years

Jack was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, to La Sonjia and H. David Jack. While in high school, he lettered in football and track at Bellevue High in Bellevue, Washington. In football, Jack played exclusively as a running back through his sophomore year, before also becoming a linebacker. As a senior, he had 98 tackles and 24 sacks, leading his team to a 14–0 record.

On the track team, Jack earned a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the 2013 WA 3A State Meet, recording a personal best time of 49.05 seconds. At the 2013 3A KingCo Championships, he took bronze in the 200-meter dash event by clocking a personal-best time of 22.12 seconds. He was also a member of the 2013 state 3A champion 4 × 100 m (41.64) and 4 × 400 m (3:20.12) relay teams.

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Jack was listed as the No. 16 outside linebacker in the nation in 2013. He chose UCLA over offers from Florida State, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington, and Utah.

College career

As a true freshman in 2013, Jack played in 13 games, starting 12 at linebacker and one at running back. He finished the season with 75 tackles, the second-most ever by a UCLA true freshman behind Kenny Easley's 93 in 1977. Jack also added two interceptions and one touchdown on defense. As a running back, he had 267 rushing yards on 38 carries, averaging over seven yards per carry, and ran for a team-leading seven touchdowns in five games on offense.

Jack did not play at running back until the ninth game of the season in a 31–26 win over Arizona, when he gained 120 yards on six carries, including a 66-yard touchdown. The Bruins had been short on running backs with starter Jordon James out with an ankle injury. With more injuries to their backs the following week, Jack ran for a UCLA freshman-record four touchdowns in a 41–31 win over Washington. With the offense still depleted in the backfield and with Coach Jim Mora playing mostly a nickel defense against Arizona State, Jack started and played exclusively at running back against the Sun Devils, carrying 16 times for 86 yards and a touchdown in a 38–33 loss. For his play, Jack was named both the Pac-12 Conference Offensive and Defensive Freshman Player of the Year. He was also named an All-American by Athlon Sports and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award. He also earned Freshman All-American honors by The Sporting News in 2013.

In his sophomore year in 2014, he was named to the All-Pac-12 second team as a linebacker for the second straight year. He also continued to see time as a running back, carrying the ball 28 times in nine games.

On September 22, 2015, during a routine practice, Jack tore the meniscus in his knee while performing a non-contact drill, and a statement was released from coaches stating that he would not return for the remainder of the season. On October 6, head coach Jim Mora announced that Jack had withdrawn from UCLA to focus on his rehabilitilation and entering the 2016 NFL draft. His injury had occurred two days before the start of the fall quarter, and he had already fallen behind in his classes while rehabbing from his knee and coping with his short-term immobility. Entering the 2015 season, Jack was widely considered a first-round draft prospect.

Professional career

In March 2016, Jack was projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, with many experts placing him as high as No. 5 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to the draft, Jack was confident he could play immediately, but admitted that his knee had degenerative aspects which could require microfracture surgery in the future.

Jack fell out of the first round due to concerns with his knee, and was selected in the second round by the Jaguars with the 36th overall pick.