Bowling Green State University Athletics
Jacobs Goes to Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL Draft
May 01, 2006 | Football
May 1, 2006
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Omar Jacobs is the latest quarterback from a Mid-American Conference school to come to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A former Bowling Green standout, Jacobs was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round Sunday, the 164th pick of the draft. He joins starter Ben Roethlisberger from Miami and backup Charlie Batch from Eastern Michigan on the Steelers roster.
"Pittsburgh is a great football city and they have a great quarterback there in Ben Roethlisberger," Jacobs said Sunday evening in a telephone interview. "Pittsburgh has a rich tradition ... I'm proud to be a part of it."
In a telephone interview with the Pittsburgh-area media, Jacobs said: "They stretch the ball down the field and do a lot of things with Ben Roethlisberger. They can do the same with me."
Jacobs bypassed his final season with Bowling Green to enter the NFL draft.
"That is awesome," said BG head coach Gregg Brandon. "He's going to get his chance to live his dream and we wish him nothing but the best."
Playing less than two full seasons as a starter for the Falcons, Jacobs is the school's all-time career leader in touchdown passes (71) and is third in career passing yards (6,938). As a sophomore he completed 309-of-462 passes for 4,002 yards with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions.
"Omar Jacobs is a really, really talented young man," said Mark Whipple, Pittsburgh's quarterbacks coach. "Of all the quarterbacks left, he was the one guy that had a chance to really be a good player for us. We're excited about him. Talking to him on the phone, he's ecstatic.
"It's a real good fit for us. The only problem is in my meeting room we'll have more MAC updates than anywhere in the country."
Jacobs' agent, Joby Branion, from Athletes First, says Pittsburgh will be a good fit for the former Falcon.
"There really weren't too many better opportunities out there for what he brings to the table and what he's looking to do long-term in the NFL," Branion said. "It's a great opportunity with a great team that is arguably the most stable team in the entire league.
"He really fits well with that team. In a lot of ways, he's a lot like Ben Roethlisberger. He's big, he's strong, he's athletic, he doesn't think run first, he can make all the throws. He fits into what they've been able to accomplish."
One of the knocks on Jacobs was his throwing motion, but Whipple is not concerned.
"You just ask, `Does he throw a tight spiral?' He did. He threw a tight spiral. The ball should be easy for the receiver to catch. I'm not going to change that," Whipple said. "He's 6-feet-4 and he's a little low. I didn't see him get a whole lot of balls batted down on the tapes that I watched.
"I thought that where he threw the ball was on time and in a place where the receivers can make a play," Whipple added. " A lot of guys may throw it a little behind, but the ball was there where (the receivers) could make something happen. Until you work with him it's more about learning up and getting in and out of the huddle. We've been through that with the wrist bands. I'm not concerned about it. Physically, he was one of the best guys out there."
Jacobs said he needs to be in Pittsburgh on May 12 to start mini-camp. Until then, he plans to continue to work out. He said the Steelers were not sending him a workout plan.
"I've got to go into camp sharp," he said. "I'll just stay in shape and continue to throw the ball.
"I'm prepared to learn. I'm going to compete, I'm a competitor, and I'm going to compete for the job.
"Ben is a great quarterback. If I have to sit for a while, and if my time comes it will come. I have to be patient to some degree and I want to be patient in Pittsburgh."
Jacobs is one of five quarterbacks on Pittsburgh's roster. In addition to Roethlisberger and Batch, Rod Rutherford and Shane Boyd, who is currently in NFL Europe, are with the Steelers.
"He'll get a chance to learn and grow and develop," Branion said. "I pointed out to him that there have been a lot of great quarterbacks who didn't get drafted on the first day. There is case after case of successful quarterbacks who were drafted on the second day."
BG has had a player drafted for the third straight year. Quarterback Josh Harris was chosen in the sixth round by Baltimore in 2003 and offensive lineman Scott Mruczkowski was picked by the San Diego Chargers in the seventh round in 2004.
