Big Cat Country
When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected tight end Tanner Koziol in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, many fans were introduced to him for the first time.
Unlike some prospects who arrive with five-star recruiting rankings and household-name college programs on their résumé, Koziol took a much less conventional route to the NFL. His journey included light recruitment out of high school, multiple transfers, record-breaking production, and even a dog named Jaxson who may have seen his Jaguars future before anyone else.
As Jacksonville fans get to know one of the newest members of the roster, here are five things you might not know about Tanner Koziol.
Every NFL Draft produces a few memorable stories, but Koziol’s might be one of the most unusual.
The tight end owns a dog named Jaxson. When Jacksonville called to make him their fifth-round selection, Jaxson was reportedly right there with him to share the moment. The coincidence immediately caught the attention of fans and reporters alike.
While the dog’s name obviously predates Koziol’s arrival in Jacksonville, it has quickly become one of the more amusing stories attached to the rookie’s introduction to the NFL.
The Jaguars have built a roster full of players with unique journeys and personalities, and Koziol’s canine connection to Jacksonville certainly falls into that category.
It’s a light-hearted story, but it also serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change for NFL prospects. One phone call can alter the course of a career. In Koziol’s case, it also happened to create one of the draft’s strangest coincidences.
Koziol’s road to Jacksonville was far from conventional.
Coming out of high school in Indiana, he was not considered one of the nation’s elite recruits. He attracted relatively modest attention compared to many NFL-bound prospects and originally committed to the University of North Dakota before ultimately signing with Ball State.
At the time, few would have predicted that he would eventually become an NFL draft pick.
His college journey only became more unusual from there.
After establishing himself at Ball State, Koziol entered the transfer portal. Following a breakout season in 2024, he committed to Wisconsin, seemingly setting himself up for a major move to the Big Ten. Instead, after participating in spring practices, he made the surprising decision to leave Madison before ever playing a game for the Badgers.
He transferred again, this time landing at Houston.
For many players, that amount of movement can derail development. New systems, new coaches and new expectations often make consistency difficult.
Instead, Koziol flourished.
The move to Houston allowed him to showcase his talents at an even higher level and ultimately helped cement his status as an NFL prospect. Looking back, what appeared to be a winding and uncertain journey turned out to be the perfect route to the Jaguars.
Many football players list golf as a hobby, but Tanner Koziol takes it a little further than that.
The Jaguars rookie...
