Raiders running back Josh Jacobs’ expectations for himself are almost beyond belief. While NFL pundits have suggested Jacobs could be this season’s Rookie of the Year on offense, the Alabama product is looking further ahead — and much higher
In an interview with NFL Media analyst and former wide receiver Steve Smith, Jacobs proclaimed he’s not satisfied with his current status of simply being one of many NFL players today.
He wants to be one of the best to ever play the sport.
“I’m not just happy and comfortable being in the league. I feel if I want to do it, I want to be one of the best to ever do it,” Jacobs said, per the Raiders’ official Twitter account.
Smith didn’t miss a beat, giving Jacobs a ‘quiz’ of sorts, asking him to name some of the best running backs in the NFL.
“If you go way back to Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. But nowadays, you got Zeke [Elliott], you got Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara. There’s a lot of great running backs. I kind of like to steal from all of them.”
Before Jacobs can reach those lofty heights, he must prove to coach Jon Gruden he can handle as many carries Brown, Payton, and Sanders did. Jacobs tallied 20 carries or more in a game just once in three years at Alabama.
But Gruden will certainly give his No.1 draft choice every opportunity to earn the starting spot. Once that happens, Jacobs obviously won’t be satisfied.
