From now until the 2019 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#8 Joshua Jacobs/RB/Alabama/5’10”, 215 Lbs
The Good
– Old-school mentality for the position; wants to punish defenders on every run
– Workhorse running back late in games, helping Alabama salt away wins
– Explosive lower half with quick burst in and out of his cuts
– Physical pass protector that looks to rock free rusher; drops his pads well and keeps his eyes up
– Showed major improvements as a pass catcher in final year; able to track the ball well down the field and plucks balls out of the air away from his body
– Very little hesitation behind the line of scrimmage; hits holes hard and fast
– Terrific contact balance for the position with a power-packed frame; always keeps legs churning
The Bad
– Limited production as part of three-headed monster at RB throughout his career with the Crimson Tide
– Struggles to escape low contact at times; can be tripped up by smaller defenders; started to see defenders going lower as season progressed to try and counter Jacobs’ power
– Does not have breakaway speed and likely won’t hit many home runs in the NFL
– Has had issues with nagging injuries throughout his career, including sophomore year
– Won’t outrun many defenders laterally; needs to be moving north/south initially to get a head of steam going
Bio
– Selected as the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 SEC Championship Game against Georgia
– Contributed in numerous ways as a junior, totaling 15 touchdowns (11 rushing, three receiving, one kickoff return) to rank eighth in the SEC and his 11 rushing scores tied for seventh in the league
– Finished three-year career at Alabama with 40 career games played, 299 touches, 2,062 yards from scrimmage, 21 TDs
– 64 of his 140 touches as a junior went for a score or a first down for Alabama (46 percent)
– Former 4-star recruit that developed late in the process and chose Alabama over Missouri in-state Oklahoma
Tape Breakdown
Coming into the 2018 season, Alabama was expected to have the best running back in the 2019 draft class, bar none.