Bowling Green State University Athletics
Jacobs Drafted In Fifth Round By Pittsburgh
April 30, 2006 | Football
April 30, 2006
Bowling Green, Ohio - Former Bowling Green State University quarterback Omar Jacobs was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft by the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the 164th selection overall in the draft.
"That is awesome," said BGSU head coach Gregg Brandon. "He's going to get his chance to live his dream and we wish him nothing but the best."
Jacobs was a two-year starter for the Falcons (2004 and 2005) and is the Falcons' all-time career leader in touchdown passes with 71 and ranks third in career yards with 6,938. He finished 2005 as the active NCAA career leader in total offense per game (295.6), passing yards per game (277.5) and passing efficiency (162.5).
In 2004, he was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and GMAC Bowl MVP after leading college football with 41 TD passes. He completed 309 of 462 passes for 4,002 yards. He also set an NCAA mark for TD/interception ratio when he had just four passes picked that season.
In 2005, he missed two-plus games with a separation of his non-throwing shoulder but still earned second-team All-MAC honors. He completed 195 of 321 passes for 2,591 yards and 26 scores (seven interceptions) in 8 games, plus one quarter.
"I think its interesting that Pittsburgh now has three quarterback from the MAC in Ben Roethlisberger (Miami), Charlie Batch (Eastern Michigan) and Omar," said BGSU quarterbacks coach Mick McCall. "I know Omar is very excited to have an opportunity to play for what is the premiere organization in the NFL right now."
BGSU Draft Notes
The Falcons have now had a player drafted for the third straight year. Quarterback Josh Harris was chosen in the 6th round by Baltimore in 2003 and offensive lineman Scott Mruczkowski was picked by the San Diego Chargers in 2004. It marks the first time that BGSU has had players chosen in three straight years since 1976-80 when players were picked in five straight drafts.
Jacobs is the fourth Falcon signal caller to be drafted since 1978. Mark Miller was picked in the 3rd round by Cleveland in 1978, Brian McClure was chosen in the 12th round by Buffalo and Harris in the 6th in 2004.
Pope, Sanders and Sharon Will Sign as Free Agents
Three other former Falcon players will sign non-drafted free agent contracts as of Sunday night.
Running back P.J. Pope will join the Chicago Bears.
Pope, a native of Farifield, Ohio and a graduate of Wyoming High School is the only player in BGSU history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a career and accumulate more than 1,000 yards receiving as well. He finished as the school's third all-time leading rusher with 3,116 yards, tied for third in Falcon history with 33 rushing TDs and was tied for second in BGSU lore with 41 career TDs overall. His 5.2 yards per carry average is tied for the third best mark in school history and his 4,300 all-purpose yards is the second most for a Falcon. He tied for fourth all-time at BG in scoring with 246 points.
"I'm real excited to get this opportunity," said Pope. "All you can ask for is a chance and hopefully I can take advantage of it."
Wide receiver Charles Sharon will return to his native Florida to compete for the Jacksonville Jaquars.
As a Falcon, Sharon caught at least one pass in a school-record 48 consecutive games and leaves BGSU as the all-time leader in receptions (232), receiving yards (3,450), receiving TDs (34), seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards (2), and all-purpose yards (4,519). He is ranked fourth all-time at BGSU in TDs scored with 35 and second in punt return yards with 848. In his final campaign, Sharon, a second-team All-MAC honoree, finished fifth in the MAC in receptions per game (6.73) and in receiving yards (93.5) and was third in the league in punt returns (10.8) and sixth in all-purpose yards (135.9).
"I am very grateful for this opportunity and plan to take full advantage of it," added Sharon. "There is no way I would have gotten to this point had it not been for everyone at BGSU."
Wide receiver Steve Sanders will join his hometown Cleveland Browns. He is a 2001 graduate of East High School in Cleveland.
He finished seventh all-time in BGSU history in receptions with 156 and receiving yards at 2,324. His 24 TD receptions were fourth all-time and he is 10th all-time in Falcon history with 25 TDs scored overall.
Last year he started all 11 games and finished second in the MAC in scoring at 8.2 points per game and eighth in the MAC with 855 receiving yards. He was second on the team with 56 catches and his 14 TD receptions was the second-highest single season effort in BGSU history. His best game was when he caught six passes for 127 yards and two scores at Wisconsin.
"It has always been a dream of mine to play football in the NFL for the hometown team," added Sanders. "I am living the little boys dream to play to come home and play in Cleveland and do what I do best and that is paying football."
