For a young man that grew up not having a place to call home, Josh Jacobs turned pain into triumph at the University of Alabama and is now in the National Football League.
Regardless of not being a starter for the Crimson Tide, the former three-star running back from Oklahoma totaled 1,315 all-purpose yards in 2018 with 15 touchdowns.
His versatility as both a back and receiver create huge value for him in this year’s NFL Draft and it was the Oakland Raiders that cashed in on him with 24th overall pick.
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After trading away Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, Raiders’ head coach Jon Gruden begins a strong rebuild with selecting the top back of this year’s draft class. He led the Tide in rushing scores as a junior (11) and now, Jacobs goes to a franchise littered with offensive weapons such as Antonio Brown, Dwayne Harris and J.J. Nelson.
Derek Carr, who enters his sixth season, is coming off his first 4,000-yard campaign with 4,049 yards in 2018. In the departure of Marshawn Lynch, Jacobs provides Oakland with not just an angry runner between the tackles but also someone to enhance Carr’s distribution of the football. He fits the modern-day back in the NFL, joining the likes of Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt and Christian McCaffrey among others.
Despite it finishing at 4-12 last year, the AFC West has now become more interesting with Jacobs rocking silver and black.
Per Spotrac, Jacobs is looking at $11.9 million for four years.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
