5 Jacksonville Jaguars Players Poised for a Breakout Campaign in 2015

The Jacksonville Jaguars have made investments in players through the draft and free agency, and now they will look for them to break out into stellar 2015 campaigns. Obviously, not every investment turns a profit, but the Jaguars could make huge strides with the help of a breakout player or two.

The breakout season from a player is typically one that a lot of fans see coming, but very few in the national media can predict. It can happen in a flash, or it can be something that's been building up to a monumental performance.

The Jaguars are in need of such performances. The team is improving, but the Jaguars will be looking to certain players to elevate their game and make a difference. Players who reach that next level tend to make that difference, and that's what separates an average season from a great one.

It's a real possibility that none of these players makes the greater impact this team is looking for, but there's also the real possibility that multiple players reach the next step. Who can carry the Jaguars out of the bottom of the NFL?

Demetrius McCray

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Demetrius McCray is one of the underrated players on the Jaguars roster. He's gained more love thanks to his consistent performances last season, but he seems ready to make an even bigger contribution to the Jaguars in 2015.

McCray is entering his third year with the Jaguars after being selected by them in the seventh round in the 2013 NFL draft. He saw small amounts of playing time in 2013, but 2014 is where he made his first strides toward "breakout" status.

Last season he had 42 solo tackles and three passes defended, but his success was never going to look good on a stat sheet. He was a tough opponent on every pass he defended, and his ability to bring down the ball-carrier in the open field showed a lot of improvement from 2013.

While McCray has made a lot of progress, he still can get better. He's improving his ball skills and is getting better at getting the ball out of the receiver's hands. He may never be a guy who pulls down a staggering number of interceptions, but he is still a great defender.

McCray may not have the best stats, but he's ready for the next step. He'll need to get his hands on a couple of interceptions and continue to impress in the open field, but the potential is most definitely there.

Marqise Lee

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Marqise Lee has the ability to shred and decimate defenses with his speed and vision. He proved this at USC, and it made him one of the top prospects coming out of college in 2014. So, where was it last season?

Lee was selected in the second round of last year's draft, and despite all the incredible talents he offers, it wasn't going to be an easy journey. He's dealt with nagging injuries for years, and they were apparent in 2014.

It doesn't help that he's relatively undersized at 6'0", 192 pounds. He totaled 422 yards and one touchdown last season, but for a guy who has made it this far based on big plays, he seemed to produce very few of them.

Guys like Lee need a comfortable situation to excel in, and that's what he will find in 2015. The 2014 offense saw two starting quarterbacks and play-calling from Jedd Fisch, which really was above Fisch's ability.

In 2015, Lee can expect a more complete offense. Blake Bortles will be the sole QB, and T.J. Yeldon will be the versatile starter at RB. Lee will also benefit from a more consistent offensive scheme from Greg Olsen. It also helps that he's had an offseason to fully recover from his injuries.

Injuries may plague him again, but he has the ability to be a big-time playmaker. Olsen knows his skill set and will look to set him up in space and for speedy routes downfield. Lee is ready for success; it's just a matter of staying healthy.

Telvin Smith

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It's hard to say that Telvin Smith didn't have a breakout season last year. Accumulating 72 solo tackles, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble is impressive, but he still hasn't reached his top ceiling.

Smith was a fan favorite for some before he was selected in the fifth round on the 2014 NFL draft from Florida State, but his quick, aggressive play style won over the hearts of the Jaguars in mere weeks.

It would be illogical to say that Smith didn't have a great rookie season in 2014, but he wasn't without his faults. There were times where he showed his inexperience, either in his positioning or in his overall understanding of the professional game.

Smith shouldn't succeed, honestly. He's undersized at 6'3", 218 pounds and a bit lanky, and while he succeeded at Florida State, he was never the Seminoles' top player. But he is succeeding despite the odds, and with a year under his belt, he looks like he's only going to get better.

A breakout season for Smith will be the result of fixing his errors rather than tallying more big plays. The big plays will come, and his nose for the ball cannot be taught. What he needs to do now is mature.

Smith should embrace the responsibilities of his role a bit more in 2015, and he will. He'll continue to cause havoc for offenses, but to break out in 2015 he has to play smarter and cut down on the mistakes.

Jermey Parnell

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Very few players have been as good as Jermey Parnell is and still had to take the back seat. He initially came out of college as a defensive end, but the Dallas Cowboys converted him to a tackle, and he's ready to show how big that transition is.

Parnell has been praised as a tremendous backup, and the eight games he started in 2014 in place of Doug Free proved his ability. However, Parnell didn't get a proper chance in 2012 or 2013 save for two starts at left tackle in 2012.

So, with 10 starts under his belt and at 28 years old, how is Parnell just now ready for his breakout season? He wasn't converted to a tackle until the 2012 season, and along with learning from Free and Tyron Smith, he's just now fully ready to start at tackle.

His eight starts in 2014 included the Cowboys' two playoff games. Parnell grew a lot in 2014, and the Jaguars recognized this and pounced on him. With a shiny new contract and something to prove, he can be a major contributor in 2015.

I expect Parnell to have a great season, but he could go on to do more. He's gone up against some of the best in the NFC and succeeded. It may be a lot to ask, but he can legitimately challenge for a Pro Bowl selection.

Ryan Davis

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Anyone who has followed the Jaguars over the past two seasons knows how exciting Ryan Davis is. After going undrafted in 2012, he spent the next three years improving and working his way up the totem pole in Jacksonville.

Like Telvin Smith, it's hard to say that Davis didn't have his breakout season last season. He made a huge impact for the Jaguars with 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defended, despite not seeing the field as much as he should have.

It's not often you see a player devastate an offense out of nowhere, but when the Jaguars needed big plays, Davis delivered. The backup, and sometimes third-stringer, made the most of his play time, and it will pay off in 2015.

He will sit behind Chris Clemons this season, at least in the beginning. Clemons is 33 years old and won't see as much playing time as he did previously, and that's where Davis can step in.

He is ready for a breakout season as much as anyone. It won't be easy to match the numbers of last season, but Davis can do that and more. If he can prove he's a viable player for almost every down, we could see Davis improve on his sack total and contribute more to the team overall.

All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated. Predraft information courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com and NFL.com.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.