PerspectivesCole Pepper Jacksonville Today Contributor

Cole Pepper has covered sports in Jacksonville since 1996, most recently for News4Jax. He is currently broadcast director for Sporting Club Jacksonville and has called play-by-play for a number of teams, including the Suns, Tomcats, Jacksonville University, Sharks and The Bolles School football. He also served as the studio host for the Jaguars Radio Network.

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November 19, 2023

SPORTS | Back on track: Jaguars’ whipping of Titans calms concerns

The Jacksonville Jaguars dominated a struggling Tennessee Titans team 34-14 to improve to 7-3 on the season.…

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Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr. and the rest of the Jaguars offense were held without a touchdown at home for the second time this season. San Franscisco snapped Jacksonville’s five-game winning streak with its 34-3 win at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 12, 2023

SPORTS | Jaguars outmanned in another home loss

On a misty and gray Sunday at EverBank Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers dominated the Jaguars in the trenches in…

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Raines quarterback Ty'ren Randolph threw two touchdowns to lead the Vikings to victory in the 54th Northwest Classic. Raines dominated its rival Ribault in the 54th Northwest Classic on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. The Vikings lead the all-time series 40-14. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2023

SPORTS | November reflections on Jags, college and high school football

Midseason reflections on the Jaguars, UF, FSU, UGA and local high school football teams.…

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) beats Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) and safety Damontae Kazee (23) on a 56-yard touchdown reception during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
October 29, 2023

SPORTS | Jaguars gritty, not pretty in win over Steelers

The Jaguars’ trend of playing less-than-pristine football but still winning continued in a 20-10 victory over the Steelers Sunday in…

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Banners lining the field are seen at EverBank Field before an NCAA college football game between Florida and Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
October 22, 2023

SPORTS | Jaguars, Gators and Bulldogs back to work after an off weekend

Sizing up where the Jaguars stand seven games into the season and previewing Georgia-Florida.…

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Trevor Lawrence celebrates a Jaguars touchdown during an Oct. 15, 2023 contest against the Indianapolis Colts
October 15, 2023

SPORTS | Jaguars take control of AFC South but Trevor Lawrence’s injury a concern

Sunday’s win over the Colts was the first Jags victory in Jacksonville this season and put the Jaguars in control…

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16), left, reacts after an NFL football game between Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The Jaguars won the match 25-20. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
October 8, 2023

SPORTS | Jaguars sweep London trip with thriller over Buffalo

The Jaguars rode a rollercoaster performance to a London sweep, beating the Buffalo Bills 25-20 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.…

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Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams (31) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
October 1, 2023

SPORTS | Jaguars show some improvement in London win

In their 23-7 win over the Falcons on Sunday, the Jaguars showed they are improving in some areas.…

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Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is tackled by Houston Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and former Jaguar Shaquille Griffin. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost 37-17 to the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. The defeat was the second straight home loss at EverBank Stadium for the Jaguars. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 24, 2023

SPORTS | Jags’ brutal loss raises questions

In the course of three hours on Sunday’s sun-soaked afternoon, the Jaguars’ season took a dramatic turn. Facing the perennial…

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Patrick Mahomes meets with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence after helping the Chiefs win their first game of the 2023 season. The Jaguars lost their 2023 home opener 17-9 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Jaguars (1-1) have lost their last eight games against Kansas City. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 17, 2023

SPORTS | Lots of work to do for Jaguars

In game two against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jaguars showed they have a long way to go to reach…

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence hug following an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Indianapolis. The Jaguars won 31-21. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
September 10, 2023

SPORTS | It wasn’t pretty, but Jags win opener

The Jaguars won their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, but the box score looked better than the Jaguars’ performance.…

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (25) runs into the end zone to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
August 27, 2023

SPORTS | After unbeaten preseason, are Jaguars ready to contend for a title?

There’s almost nothing more that the Jaguars would have wanted to accomplish with their starters in the preseason finale on…

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) runs as Detroit Lions defensive end John Cominsky (79) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
August 20, 2023

SPORTS | What we learned from the second Jaguars preseason game

Only two Jaguars who are expected to be starters got playing time in Saturday’s preseason game against Detroit.…

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nathan Rourke (18) is seen during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. Jacksonville won 28-23. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
August 13, 2023

SPORTS | Canadian Minshew? Jaguars’ third-string QB Rourke opening eyes

After Nathan Rourke’s performance in Dallas, will the Jaguars keep three quarterbacks on the active roster?…

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The Jaguars shutout the Indianapolis Colts 24-0 to earn their first win of the 2022 season. The shutout was the team's first in nearly four years. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 6, 2023

SPORTS | Will Jaguars’ pass rush be a difference-maker this season?

With some of the opposing quarterbacks on the roster, the Jaguars’ defense will need to pull its weight.…

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July 30, 2023

SPORTS | Trevor Lawrence is stepping toward superstardom 

Trevor Lawrence has already shown signs of growth as he enters a new season in a stronger place than last…

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July 9, 2023

SPORTS | More complexity emerging in Jaguars’ temporary stadium question

Where will the Jaguars play while their stadium is renovated? Here are some pros and cons of the various options.…

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Wyndham Clark celebrates after winning after the U.S. Open golf tournament at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
June 19, 2023

SPORTS | An unlikely US Open winner and uncertainty for pro golf

The dramatic duel between a LIV golfer like Dustin Johnson or Cam Smith and the PGA Tour’s most outspoken defender,…

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June 5, 2023

OPINION | Trevor Lawrence is growing as a leader and as quarterback

Trevor Lawrence admits that if had not taken a major step forward last year as a player, his voice as…

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The Jaguars overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the AFC wild card playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 21, 2023

OPINION | The 5 biggest questions facing the Jaguars as offseason practices begin

For the Jaguars to make a deep playoff run, they’ll have to answer these 5 questions.…

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Travon Walker, the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, fights for separation against Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills in a preseason game on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. The Jaguars led 13-0 when both teams removed their starters. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 14, 2023

SPORTS | My Jags record prediction based on the schedule 

It’s time for the annual tradition of predicting the Jaguars’ record as the schedule is released.…

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The Jaguars overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the AFC wild card playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 7, 2023

SPORTS | Jags slighted in QB ranking

Yes, the Jaguars are getting a little more love nationally, but there are still those who need convincing.…

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External general view of the NFL football Jacksonville Jaguars' stadium, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
April 30, 2023

SPORTS | Jags ‘cautious and safe’ with 2023 draft picks

The Jaguars are not expecting any third-day draft picks (or second-day picks) to assume a starting role in 2023. …