New York Giants: Top 10 Fourth Round Draft Picks of All-Time
By Neal Lynch
7. Brandon Jacobs – RB, Southern Illinois Salukis (2005)
Games: 107
Approximate Value (“AV”) w/ Giants: 41
Seasons w/ Giants: 7
Average AV Per Season: 6
Drafted by the New York Giants in the 4th round (110th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft, after the Chicago Bears selected Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton and the Dallas Cowboys selected Minnesota running back Marion Barber. Jacobs was graded the 11th best running back available in the 2005 NFL Draft by Sports Illustrated.
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After transferring from a JUCO to Auburn, Jacobs was the third-string running back behind Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. Brandon gained 446 yards on 72 carries and 2 touchdowns in 2003 for the Tigers.
After that season, Jacobs transferred to then Division 1-AA Southern Illinois, where he led the team with 150 carries for 992 yards (6.6 avg) and 19 touchdowns, one less than the school’s all-time leader, Muhammad Abdulqaadir.
Jacobs was an All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and All-Gateway Conference first-team choice and was also named Gateway Conference Newcomer of the Year. He led the conference and ranked tenth in the nation in scoring, averaging 9.5 points per game.
In eight seasons with the G-Men, Jacobs started 49 of 107 games played, sitting behind Tiki Barber in 2005 and 2006 then becoming the starter in 2007. He was the Giants leading rusher from 2007 – 2009, but lost carries to Ahmad Bradshaw in 2010 and 2011. Over his career, he totaled more than 5,000 rushing yards (4th most in franchise history) and scored 60 rushing touchdowns, the most in franchise history.
His 15 rushing touchdowns in 2008 are second all-time among Giants behind Joe Morris’s 21 in 1985. Brandon’s 91.7 yards per game in 2007 ranked 5th in Giants history and his 83.8 rushing YPG in 2008 were 9th all-time for a single season. Jacobs’ 5.6 rushing yards per attempt in 2010 was tied for highest in franchise history with Derrick Ward in 2008 and Eddie Price in 1950.
His 90 total points scored in 2008 is tied for 4th all-time among Giants who aren’t kickers. The 386 points scored during his Giants tenure is 4th most among non-kickers in franchise history.
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