The draft weekend didn’t go as Wade Jacobson wanted it to, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t excited.
The former Baler and Gavilan College football player Jacobson was not among one of the 254 players selected during the 2013 NFL Draft, which ended Saturday evening. Jacobson, an offensive lineman who played three seasons at Washington State, agreed to go to the Washington Redskins’ Thursday rookie mini camp, he confirmed Sunday. He could receive a contract as an undrafted free agent. However, he can sign with any team.
“Yeah, I didn’t get drafted but this is still a great opportunity,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson was told that after the three-day mini camp, he could receive a contract from the Redskins and an opportunity to go to training camp in the fall. For now, he is going to take advantage of his opportunity.
“I’m going to learn the playbook, take my snaps and show them what I can do,” he said. “I’m going to go in there and do my best. I’m looking at it as a job – just like I did in college. It’s a very important job. It’s going to be fun.”
After the draft ended, it wasn’t long before Jacobson heard from teams hoping to bring him into their camp, he said. The Redskins offered him the first opportunity, and he didn’t want to wait for another one.
“It’s the NFL; you can’t sit and wait,” he said. “I didn’t want to wait for another offer and lose the Redskins. When they offered, I jumped on it.”
At the time, he was waiting to hear back from a couple of teams, Jacobson said.
During the three-day draft, Jacobson spent most of his time away from the TV, he said.
“I was trying to keep my mind off of it,” Jacobson said. “I wanted to try and do as much as I could to keep my mind off it. I knew I wouldn’t find out until at least Saturday, so I was just trying to get my mind off of it.”
Jacobson will compete with at least 18 other undrafted free agents, including five other linemen, with Washington.
“I’m just going to go there and play football and see what happens,” Jacobson said.
To celebrate his chance in the NFL, Jacobson visited Spring Grove School to spend time with students and sign autographs.
