Marty Jacobs gets the question all the time from people back home in Oklahoma.
“Is Josh going to get more touches this year?” they ask.
“I just tell them, ‘Hey, I don’t know. We’ll see when the time comes,'” said Marty Jacobs, Josh Jacobs’ father. “But everybody here is excited to see if he gets more touches and show even more what he’s capable of doing.”
It looks like he’ll get that opportunity.
When new Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was with the New England Patriots, the team had multi-dimensional running backs such as Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead and James White that were big factors in the passing game in addition to contributing as a traditional ball carrier.
Josh Jacobs could be the Crimson Tide’s version of Faulk, Woodhead and White.
“I would say he’s the most different, the most unique out of that (running back) group,” Tide star defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said of Jacobs, a sophomore. “He’s a smaller guy … but he’s the most athletic maybe out of the group. He’s real shifty. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. They line him up in the slot sometimes in practice and stuff like that. So I’d definitely say he’s very versatile.”
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Even after losing B.J. Emmons, the Crimson Tide still has arguably the deepest and most talented running back group in the nation.
The expectation of at least some at Alabama is that Jacobs could put up some nice numbers this year even with the Tide as loaded as it is at running back with players like preseason second-team All-SEC selection Bo Scarbrough, returning 1,000-yard rusher Damien Harris and five-star freshman Najee Harris.
It could be like the situation in New England. While Faulk was rarely the primary ball carrier, he posted 993 total yards or more three times with the Patriots, including 1,078 total yards in 2003.
Faulk caught an average of 44 passes during the eight seasons in New England he played in at least 12 games, including 48 for 440 yards during that 2003 season when he also rushed for 638 yards.
Last year, White accounted for 717 total yards even though LeGarrette Blount was the Patriots’ primary ball carrier.
In New England’s Super Bowl win over the Atlanta Falcons, White ran for 29 yards and two touchdowns while also catching 14 passes for 110 yards and a score.
As for Jacobs, his athleticism was on display during Alabama’s spring testing in March.
The former three-star recruit ran the 40-yard dash in 4.50 seconds and had the top vertical jump on the team (35.5 inches).
The 5-foot-10 Jacobs, who is up to 212 pounds from 204 pounds last season, also bench-pressed 405 pounds and squatted 500 pounds.
“It’s hard to take him down,” former Alabama wide receiver ArDarius Stewart said during the winter of Jacobs, who ran for 564 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman while also catching 14 passes for 166 yards. “He can make plays when you don’t think there’s anything there.”
According to Pro Football Focus ratings, Jacobs had the most yards after contact per attempt of any Power Five conference freshman last season (4.6).
In addition, his “elusiveness rating,” as calculated by Pro Football Focus, ranked first nationally among returning running backs.
Anyone that saw Jacobs play last year knows about his elusiveness. What people will likely see more of this year is his overall versatility and pass-catching ability.
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Alabama’s spring game in April may have given a small preview to how Jacobs could be used.
In addition to rushing for 28 yards on seven carries, Jacobs also caught four passes for 49 yards.
The final two catches came late in the fourth quarter and helped put Jacobs’ team in position for a game-winning field goal.
The first catch on that drive gained nine yards after Jacobs got open on an out route out of the backfield.
The second one came on the next play, a 22-yard catch-and-run that got the ball to the other team’s 28-yard line. Jacobs slipped out of the backfield, caught a short pass over the middle and gained additional yardage after eluding outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings.
Then, this summer, Jacobs played pick-up basketball with teammates for extra cardio in addition to team workouts at Alabama.
During those basketball games, teammates saw what opposing defenders will soon realize about Jacobs in the passing game — he’s very quick and tough to cover
“He’s ready for this year,” Marty Jacobs said of his son. “It drives him being the underdog. It’s almost like, OK, I’m going to show ya’ll. Josh is a competitive dude. If he wants to do something, he’s going to do it. I can tell you that. Just tell him he can’t do something and watch what happens. He’s just that type of kid, and he feels like he’s got something to prove.”
