Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs not being talked about enough for 2024 NFL Draft, On3 says
Penn State has had multiple players listed as potential first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft this offseason. Offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, cornerback Kalen King, and defensive end Chop Robinson are all considered college football players who could go to a pro team with one of the first 32 picks in next year’s pro selection process.
On3 senior national college football reporter Matt Zenitz is going beyond the current cream of the crop, though, to look at defenders who should receive more draft hype before the latest season begins. And, a Penn State linebacker made the cut. It’s Curtis Jacobs. The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Glen Burnie, Md., native was eligible to leave school after the 2022 season. But, he announced on Jan. 10 that he’d be coming back for another year. It’s led to plenty of praise this offseason, the latest of which comes in Zenitz’s piece. It looks at the top 10 highly regarded defensive prospects not being talked about enough for the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Jacobs doesn’t get the attention of other Penn State top draft prospects like offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, cornerback Kalen King or EDGE Chop Robinson, but he’s one of multiple other Nittany Lions defenders with a shot at going in the first few rounds of next year’s draft. Current NFL grades on him seem to mostly be in the first three rounds.
“Jacobs, who’s entering his third season as a starter, won Penn State’s Ultimate Teammate Award last year along with tight end Brenton Strange, who was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of this year’s draft. Jacobs finished last season with 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception. “He’ll be an NFL linebacker,” a Big Ten running backs coach told On3. “
Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs is receiving plenty of priase this offseason
Zenitz’s story is just the latest example of outside observers being excited about the Penn State linebacker. In June, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller listed Jacobs as one of the under-the-radar draft eligible prospects who have pro scouts excited.
“Turn on the 2022 Penn State tape and you’ll see a handful of defensive starters who could make this list — and plenty who could be top-50 picks in next year’s draft,” Miller writes. “But Jacobs stands out in a big way. There is some excitement in the scouting world to see his follow-up performance in 2023.
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“One AFC general manager who has done a surface-level viewing of the top 2024 prospects said Jacobs might be the most underrated player in the nation. “[Fashanu] gets all the praise there, and he’s great, but Jacobs might be a top-five player in the class when it’s all said and done.”
On3 calls Jacobs the No. 100 player in all of college football entering the new season. And, the site also calls him the No. 10 linebacker ahead of the 2023 season. Teammate Abdul Carter checks in at No. 2.
