Jacobs become the top prospect for his position

Once pegged as a backup awaiting his turn amid Alabama's deep stable of running backs, Josh Jacobs has suddenly rocketed to become the consensus top prospect at the position. Asked Thursday at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine if he's the best back in the draft, a humble Jacobs reluctantly admitted that he thinks he is.

Most outlets agree, touting Jacobs' explosiveness, physicality and versatility, as well as minimal mileage on his odometer. While some might question Jacobs' inexperience -- he had just 299 career touches in college -- he said being part of a committee "definitely" helped him by keeping him fresher and healthier. "I mean I didn't have any injuries this year," Jacobs said. "After games, I was even like -- didn't have bruises, stuff like that. I felt crazy good."

The true junior also made his opportunities with the Crimson Tide count by averaging 6.9 yards per touch and scoring 21 touchdowns. "I didn't have a lot of carries or nothing like that, but if you look at the production of what I did when I was in the game, it kind of speaks for itself, so I just let it do that," Jacobs said.

In a league increasingly tilting toward a committee approach at running back, Jacobs is already familiar and comfortable with being part of a rotation. He also is prepared to make an impact as a receiver in today's pass-happy NFL after catching 48 passes for 571 yards (11.9 average) and five scores at Alabama.

"I can line up in the slot, or I can play running back, wherever you want to put me," said Jacobs, who added that he's learned much of what he knows as a route-runner from former Crimson Tide standout Julio Jones. Jones spends plenty of time during the offseason working out in Tuscaloosa and tutoring Alabama players. After avoiding injuries in college, Jacobs sustained a "mild" groin strain while training that will keep him from working out on the field this week. He said Thursday he's around 85 per cent and would play in a game if there were one tomorrow, but he'll wait until he's 100 per cent on Alabama's March 19 pro day.

Jacobs, measured at 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, said he has been running the 40-yard dash in the 4.46-second range during training.