Penn State Football, Curtis Jacobs Curtis Jacobs #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Undrafted Penn State Football Phenom Lands Coveted Spot with NFL Powerhouse

Originally posted on Nittany Central | By Daniel Fisher | Last updated 5/11/24

The NFL Draft, a thrilling and unpredictable event on the NFL calendar, sees over 250 players eagerly awaiting their names to be called each year. Yet, there are those who, despite their talent, remain unselected and must forge their path as undrafted free agents. With eight players from Penn State Football chosen during the draft, several more signed as undrafted free agents.

Being an undrafted free agent doesn’t mean your career is over, but making an NFL roster is much harder.

Don’t put it past this former Nittany Lion, who could be one of the steals in this year’s undrafted free-agent class.

Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs was one of many players who didn’t hear his name called two weeks ago during the seventh rounds of the NFL Draft. Still, he did land as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, and if you’re going to go anywhere in the NFL and succeed, Kansas City is a great place to start.

The Chiefs are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories, have the best quarterback and head coach in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, and had one of the best defenses last season.

Pro Football Focus put out an article titled One UDFA to watch on each NFL roster, and the article had Jacobs as the player to watch in Kansas City; they stated,

“The Chiefs have a need for depth at the linebacker position and Jacobs could provide that. Jacobs logged 49 total tackles in 2023 and was an effective blitzer for Penn State, earning 31 pressures in the last two seasons and 69 defensive stops in the last three years.”

What Curtis Jacobs Brings Kansas City Chiefs

Penn State Football, Curtis Jacobs EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 30: Curtis Jacobs #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates a tackle against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Ryan Field on September 30, 2023 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Jacobs was one of the main reasons the PSU‘s defense was one of the best in college football last season, and he helped set the tone for the team each week.

The defense helped carry the team last season while the offense struggled at times, and Jacobs made play after play to keep the season alive.

Now, the star linebacker can show what he is made of on the best franchise in the NFL. If anyone can overcome not getting drafted and make the 53-man roster, it’s the star linebacker from Happy Valley.