A former Clemson standout, on this NFL team’s practice squad, is taking advantage of the opportunity he has to learn from a future Hall of Famer.

Joseph Ngata is part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad, and the former Tiger wideout is absorbing everything he can from Julio Jones, the 34-year-old who’s in his first year with the Eagles and leads all active NFL players in catches and receiving yards.

Ngata, 22, has long admired Jones and now has the unique opportunity to emulate the seven-time Pro Bowler as teammates on the same practice field.

“Watched him a bunch and modeled my game after him. Now he’s my teammate,” Ngata said of Jones recently, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I get firsthand access to him and get to soak up all the knowledge from him.”

An undrafted rookie, the 6-foot-3, 217-pound Ngata has drawn comparisons in Philly to the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Jones, and their likeness is easy for to Ngata to see himself.

“It’s kind of scary how similar we are, just in terms of the way we look and in terms of the way we do things in practice,” Ngata said. “I try to copy everything he does.”

At Clemson from 2019-22, Ngata recorded 88 career receptions for 1,287 yards and six touchdowns over 45 career games (25 starts).

Ngata, who signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in May, was released by Philadelphia prior to the NFL’s roster cut deadline in late August before being signed to the team’s practice squad shortly thereafter.

Ngata shared what he’s been able to learn from Jones, who has amassed 13,640 yards and 64 touchdowns in his 13-year NFL career and is bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame once his playing days are over.

“Just footwork stuff,” Ngata said. “I’ve been trying to get my footwork right. And that’s with blocking and different things. I’ve been watching him a little bit more and asking him some questions. It also doesn’t hurt to have A.J. (Brown) in the room, DeVonta (Smith, all those guys have been helping me. I’ve just been trying to watch and take something out of everybody’s game. It’s helped me.”

–Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images 

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