



JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –The Jacksonville Jaguars have claimed rookie DT Eli Ankou (via Houston), third-year TE James O'Shaughnessy (via New England), rookie LB Donald Payne (via Baltimore), second-year DB Lafayette Pitts (via Miami) and first-year OT William Poehls (via Chicago), the club announced today. To make room on the roster, the club released fifth-year DT Stefan Charles and waived first-year QB Brandon Allen, second-year OL Jeremiah Poutasi, third-year LB Hayes Pullard III and third-year TE Neal Sterling.



Ankou, 6-3, 290, originally signed with the Houston Texans on May 12, 2017 as an undrafted rookie free agent. In three games this preseason, Ankou recorded five tackles (three solo), one tackle for a loss and one fumble recovery. Ankou attended UCLA (2012-16) and appeared in 38 games with 19 starts, registering 91 tackles (49 solo), 1.5 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Ankou is an Ottawa, Ontario, Canada native and attended Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, De., where he was a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com.



O'Shaugnessy, 6-4, 245, has appeared in 23 games over the last two seasons, totaling eight receptions for 86 yards (10.8 rec. avg.), after originally being drafted by Kansas City in the fifth round (173rd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. O'Shaugnessy appeared in all 16 games and made three starts in 2016, catching two passes for minus-one yard. O'Shaugnessy also appeared in the Chiefs' Divisional Round game against Pittsburgh. During his rookie season in 2015, O'Shaugnessy appeared in seven games with three starts before sustaining a season-ending injury and being placed on reserve/injured on Nov. 17, 2015. O'Shaugnessy was acquired by New England in a trade with Kansas City on April 29, 2017 and was released yesterday. O'Shaugnessy attended Illinois State (2010-14) and played in 49 games with 37 starts, totaling 67 receptions for 1,170 yards and 14 TDs. O'Shaugnessy earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference second-team honors as a senior after totaling 29 receptions for 544 yards and nine TDs. He is a native of Naperville, Ill. and was a three-year letterman at Naperville North H.S.



Payne, 5-11, 217, originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens on April 29, 2017 as an undrafted rookie free agent. In three games this preseason, Payne recorded 11 tackles (eight solo), one forced fumble and was also credited with four special teams tackles. Payne attended Stetson University (2013-2016) where he was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Pioneer Football League three consecutive years (2014-16) after being named the 2013 Pioneer Football League Defensive Freshman of the Year. The All-America safety, appeared in 44 career games and totaled 538 tackles (344 solo), nine INTS, 14.0 sacks, 65.5 tackles for a loss, 42 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks. Payne is a native of Fayetteville, Ga. and played safety and running back at Landmark Christian where he was named first team All-State as a senior and finished his high school career as a three-time first team All-Region defensive back.



Pitts, 5-11, 194, appeared in eight games for the Dolphins during his rookie season in 2016, totaling three tackles (one solo). Pitts, a native of Duquesne, Pa., played collegiately at Pittsburgh and appeared in all 52 games (51 starts) during his four-year career from 2012-15. Pitts totaled 152 tackles (118 solo), four INTs and also returned 52 kickoffs for 1,196 yards (23.0 avg.) and was named a team captain as a senior in 2015.



Poehls, 6-8, 344, has previously spent time with Chicago (2016-17), Buffalo (2016) and Tennessee (2014-15) after originally being signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2014. Poehls, 25, can play both tackle positions and appeared in 45 career games with 27 starts at Montana, and was named a second-team All-Big Sky Conference selection after starting 13 games for the 10-3 Grizzlies. Poehls, a native of Chandler, Ariz. attended Chandler High School and earned three letters in both football and wrestling and was a team captain in both sports. Poehls was a 5A first-team All-State and All-Region selection as a senior and All-Region as a junior.



The Jaguars currently have 53 players on their active roster.



