A prolific college slot receiver at Arizona whose big-play speed hasn't yet translated to a consistent NFL role.
Jacob Cowing put up some of the gaudiest receiving numbers in major college football history at Arizona, but the undersized slot receiver has spent his first two 49ers seasons buried on the depth chart. He remains a name to watch given his college production and return ability.
Path to the league
Cowing caught 175 passes for 1,882 yards and 20 touchdowns across 25 games at Arizona after transferring from UTEP, finishing his college career seventh all-time in FBS history in receiving yards (4,477) and ninth in receptions (316). The 49ers drafted the 5-foot-8 receiver in the fourth round (135th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, the highest an Arizona receiver had been selected since Mike Thomas in 2009.
Career highlights
As a rookie in 2024, Cowing averaged 20 yards per catch on limited opportunity, playing just 106 offensive snaps and catching four of six targets. His college resume, built on quickness and route-running rather than pure speed, made him a highly productive but non-traditional NFL prospect.
2025 season recap
Cowing did not record a catch, target or offensive snap of note in the 2025 season, spending the year buried behind San Francisco's deeper receiver room without a defined role.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jacob Cowing
- Pro Football Reference: Jacob Cowing
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49ers | 15 | 4 | 80 | 20.0 | 0 | 41 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49ers | 15 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Arizona
- Hometown
- Maricopa, AZ, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
