Tulane defensive back Jarius Monroe is an intriguing prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. Monroe is a big-bodied secondary defender who measured in at 6-foot and 204 pounds at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Monroe was extremely productive for the Green Wave, totaling six interceptions and 22 pass breakups across the previous two seasons.
Monroe recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his takeaways from the East-West Shrine Bowl, his being snubbed from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, his versatility playing safety, and more.
JM: You were a standout performer at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. You consistently made plays in the passing game. What was the overall experience like?
Jarius Monroe: I had a lot of fun. My first day out there, the day before our first practice, they told me I was going to be playing some safety. I played safety for the first two practices. I had never played the position before.
It was a shock to me, but I was so excited. I got a chance to show that I can play anywhere on the field. I’ve always known that I love to tackle. I’m a hard hitter. Put me at safety and let’s see what I got.
I was having so much fun out there playing as a single-high safety. I learned something new about myself. I’m very versatile. I can adapt. I already knew I could read and react to the action around me, but it became so much more obvious from the safety position. Seeing the whole field slows the game down so much for me.
JM: What do you think you proved to general managers and scouts in attendance?
Jarius Monroe: I was really just trying to be myself. I’m a positive guy. I’m an excellent communicator. I was trying to call out the plays. I was communicating with my teammates as if I was back at Tulane.
I pride myself on being a great communicator. I feel like it’s a lost art. I think I showed the scouts that I’m somebody that could play right away.
I love playing special teams, but I also have a goal to be someone that can contribute to a winning program on the defensive side of the ball as well. I feel like with my energy and the way I play the game, I can make a contribution on defense. I just hope I get an opportunity to show the world that.
JM: You sure did. I believe you met with every team at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Did any of those team meetings particularly stand out? Did you feel some teams showed more interest in you than others?
Jarius Monroe: With my type of personality, I wake up happy (laughs). I thank God for giving me that opportunity to be there and meet with the teams. Every interview felt genuine to me. I was just so happy to be in that situation and to give them a piece of me. Everyone I come in contact with is because of God. Even if we never talk again, I appreciate that interaction.
I felt like every interview was a great interview. The energy I received from every team was amazing. A lot of teams saw me as a great talent. They liked what they saw from me throughout the week. Some of the teams hadn’t heard of me until I played great at the Shrine Bowl. They fell in love with my personality.
Every team loved the type of vibe I was giving off. I had a great time with the Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, Bills, and Steelers, to name a few. Those are some of the meetings that stood out to me, but I had a great time with every team I met with. My coach on the West Team was a coach with the Commanders, so I especially spent a lot of time with Washington. The vibe was so genuine.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. You had two massive seasons at Tulane. Ball skills were routinely on display through 22 pass breakups and six interceptions. What is it about your game that leads to such great ball production?
Jarius Monroe: It’s just the passion I play with. That’s the honest truth. It’s nothing but passion. I have so much confidence in the teammates around me. I wanted to make plays for them. I love the game of football so much.
A lot of people say they love football, but when you have a genuine passion for the game, it’s totally different. It just leads to different results. I love the game. When you eat, sleep, and breathe football, everything you do in life makes you think about football. Before I eat a meal, I wonder how it’s going to impact my weight and whatnot. Let me see how this affects me at practice. I’m always thinking about football.
That’s what true passion is all about. I think my passion is what contributed to my play on the field.
JM: How would you write your own scouting report? What’s Jarius Monroe’s approach to playing the position?
Jarius Monroe: I’m an extremely reactive player. You can tell I love the game when I’m out there. The game slows down for me. Playing cornerback, you’re not supposed to be the communicator, but my coaching staff allowed me to be our communicator.
I was able to shift our coverages. The staff trusted me with that responsibility at cornerback. I had a lot of control over our defense this past season. Showcasing that aspect of my game, showing how much better I can play, having so much control showed me the type of player I am.
I’m a team-first guy. I believe all of the strings have to be pulled in one direction. I’m aware of that. That made me a coach's player at Tulane. Whatever our coaching staff needs from the defense, that’s what I’m going to work toward.
JM: We saw that on tape. You were snubbed from receiving an invite to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. How do you plan on responding to that adversity?
Jarius Monroe: I was actually happy about it. I smiled about it. God sat there and blessed me with so many opportunities. God allowed me to dominate at the Shrine Bowl. I told teams I was going to dominate before the first practice. It was already written.
I dominated that week. A few teams were shocked when I did it. I had already told them. I was named Practice Player of the Week, and then I was named an MVP as well. God gave me all of those accolades, but he said wait, you’re not getting the combine invite.
I questioned it for a day. I didn’t do enough? I’ve poured my heart into this. I’ve played the game with everything I have. The combine didn’t happen for me. I had to realize my path isn’t the same as somebody else’s.
Right now, I’m out here at Pete Bommarito’s working hard. I’m training every day. I’m trying to get better. I’m the fastest that I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to show the scouts that I’m ready to put any doubts to bed.
JM: I love that answer. I’ve appreciated your time today. What kind of person and player is a team getting when they draft Jarius Monroe?
Jarius Monroe: They’re getting a passionate player that’s going to play every snap like it's his last. I’m going to play every single snap like it’s the Super Bowl.
