Former Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs is making his presence known at Jaguars training camp. He is playing so well he may be competing for a starting spot on opening day.
Leon Jacobs was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft as an intriguing prospect with all the physical tools an NFL team would want. He ran a 4.48 40-yard dash and produced 26 reps on the bench press at this year’s combine. Those kinds of numbers alone put Jacobs on many NFL scouts’ radars going into the draft. Many believed that while possessing the physical tools, Jacobs might need a year or two to learn the NFL linebacker position. It seems that Jacobs is wasting no time in accelerating his development. Just take a look at what Jacobs did in his only year at outside linebacker at Wisconsin.
Not only is Jacobs impressing the coaching staff, but perhaps, more importantly, he is already gaining confidence and trust from his teammates. Fellow linebacker Myles Jack has continuously been impressed with how Jacobs is handling the strong-side linebacker position. He called Jacobs “a breath of fresh air” in how he does not have to worry about whether or not Jacobs is going to be in the right position or not. That is big praise from an important member of the Jacksonville defense, a defense that finished 2nd in total defense (YPG) last year.
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As a senior last year, Leon Jacobs totaled 60 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. Jacobs also showcased an instinct for the ball by capturing two interceptions. Those are incredible stats given that it was his only year at the position. Many coaches at Wisconsin expressed their appreciation for how flawlessly Jacobs handled his change to outside linebacker going into his senior year. It is safe to say that Jacobs more than flourished last year in Madison.
Defensive coordinator Todd Wash is excited with Jacobs’ play but is not ready to name him the starter right now. However, Wash stressed that there have been little to zero mental errors when it comes to Jacobs’ play. At this point, it is simply up to Jacobs to find that consistency that successful NFL linebackers show every single down. If Jacobs continues to make plays and shows the coaches that he can handle both the running and passing defensive responsibilities tasked to the SAM linebacker, you may see him making a strong contribution in “Sacksonville.” It appears that Jacobs is well on his way to becoming another great Wisconsin linebacker in the NFL.
Jaguars just took @BadgerFootball LB Leon Jacobs in Round 7 of #NFLDraft. In case you've never seen him ... pic.twitter.com/GKxap76K2o
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) April 28, 2018
This photo continues to amaze me and is incredibly humbling to just about anyone who knows what it takes to get results in the weight room. It was simply too good to not include here.