Sports Wire USA Today
He’s not a starter at Alabama, but Josh Jacobs could still be the best running back prospect eligible for the 2019 NFL draft.
If your favorite NFL team is looking for the complete package at running back, Jacobs checks every box. He’s got the explosiveness to make big plays every time he touches the ball, the frame and physicality to churn out the tough yards and hold up at the next level, and the patience, vision and intelligence to take full advantage of his physical skills.
Perhaps most importantly, Jacobs is the kind of player who gives maximum effort on every snap, even if he’s not getting the ball.
Kick return, RB, WR, special teams, you name it… Josh Jacobs can do it, and he never ever asks to come out.” — Nick Saban
Speaking of not getting the ball, that may be what NFL teams end up loving most about Jacobs. With the shelf life of a running back being of constant concern, Jacobs’ lack of a heavy workload is likely to entice pro scouts and decision-makers who want a talented, versatile back with plenty of tread on his tires.
Jacobs has just 252 career touches. By comparison, over his four-year career as the full-time starter at Toledo, Kansas City Chiefs star Kareem Hunt racked up 855 touches.
Plenty will raise their eyebrows at the thought of Jacobs being the first running back selected in next year’s draft, and understandably so. First off, he’s still just a junior, which means he could decide to return for another title run in Tuscaloosa. Some might even contend that he’s not even the best running back prospect on his own team. Starter Damien Harris, who also surprised many by returning for his senior season in 2018, is widely regarded as one of the top backs in this year’s draft class.
Then there’s other well-known starters like Iowa State’s David Montgomery, Kentucky’s Benny Snell, Jr., and Stanford’s Bryce Love. There are promising players recovering from injury, like Oklahoma’s Rodney Anderson.
But Jacobs’ combination of a complete skill set and a lack of usage could make him a uniquely attractive prospect to the NFL. It’s unfair to compare any prospect to New Orleans Saints super-weapon Alvin Kamara, but Jacobs has all the traits that could make a pro team think they’re landing the next version of him by making this college backup the first running back off the board come next April.
