Jalen Curtis Tolbert (born February 27, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Alabama Jaguars and was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Jalen Tolbert
refer to caption
Tolbert with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024
No. 1 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-27) February 27, 1999 (age 25)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:McGill–Toolen
(Mobile, Alabama)
College:South Alabama (2017–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 3 / pick: 88
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Receptions:51
Receiving yards:614
Receiving touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Tolbert was born on February 27, 1999, in Mobile, Alabama, and attended McGill–Toolen Catholic High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football.[1] He did not become a starter until his senior year and finished the season with 37 receptions for 696 yards and nine touchdowns.[2] Tolbert was rated a two-star recruit and initially committed to play college football at Jacksonville State before choosing to attend the University of South Alabama.[3]

College career

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Tolbert redshirted his true freshman season at South Alabama after suffering a knee injury in preseason training camp.[4] He entered the starting lineup as a redshirt sophomore and finished the season with 27 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns.[2] Tolbert was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference as a redshirt junior after catching 64 passes for 1,085 yards, both school records, and eight touchdowns, which tied the school record.[5][6] Against Arkansas State, he set a school record with 252 receiving yards on ten receptions with three touchdowns.[7] He was again named first-team All-Sun Belt and the conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 after resetting his own school records with 82 receptions for 1,474 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.[8]

College statistics

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South Alabama Jaguars
Season GP Receiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
2017 0 DNP
2018 5 5 60 12.0 0
2019 12 27 521 19.3 6
2020 11 64 1,085 17.0 8
2021 12 82 1,474 18.0 8
Career 40 171 3,140 17.6 22

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 1+18 in
(1.86 m)
194 lb
(88 kg)
32+14 in
(0.82 m)
10 in
(0.25 m)
4.49 s 1.49 s 2.58 s 4.24 s 7.08 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)
10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)
Sources:[9][10][11]

Tolbert was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (88th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.[12]

2022 season

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As a rookie, he appeared in eight games and had one start. He recorded two receptions for 12 yards on the 2022 season.[13]

2023 season

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In Tolbert's second season, he appeared in all 17 games; recording 22 receptions, 268 receiving yards, and 2 receiving touchdowns.[14]

2024 season

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In Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Tolbert caught the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in a 20-17 victory.[15]

Professional statistics

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Regular season

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 DAL 8 1 2 12 6.0 8 0 0 0
2023 DAL 17 6 22 268 12.1 45 2 0 0
2024 DAL 5 5 20 247 12.4 48 2 0 0
Career 30 12 44 527 10.2 48 4 0 0

Postseason

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 DAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0

References

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  1. ^ Thomas, Ben (August 1, 2016). "McGill WR Jalen Tolbert, Blount LB Zsajuan Powe commit to Jacksonville State". AL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Stephenson, Creg (December 3, 2020). "High school teammates meet again in South Alabama-Troy 'Battle for the Belt'". AL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Thomas, Ben (February 1, 2017). "McGill-Toolen WR Jalen Tolbert turns down Spartans, signs with South Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Stephenson, Creg (August 21, 2017). "South Alabama freshman WR Jalen Tolbert out for season with knee injury". AL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Stephenson, Creg (April 8, 2021). "Jalen Tolbert embracing role as South Alabama's go-to guy in 2021". AL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Crisan, Corey (September 9, 2021). "How BGSU can slow South Alabama NFL prospect Jalen Tolbert". The Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Trapasso, Chris (November 30, 2020). "2021 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Stock Watch: Tylan Wallace flashes full skill set, Jalen Tolbert has monster game". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Stephenson, Creg (December 2, 2021). "South Alabama's Jalen Tolbert named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year". AL.com. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Jalen Tolbert Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Jalen Tolbert 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  12. ^ Archer, Todd (April 30, 2022). "After a call from Dak Prescott, receiver Jalen Tolbert had a feeling he'd be a Cowboy". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jalen Tolbert 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Jalen Tolbert 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  15. ^ "Prescott throws TD pass to Tolbert with 20 seconds left to lift Cowboys past Steelers, 20-17". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
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