A team captain who fought back from a torn pectoral to lead Missouri's defense in 2025, Khalil Jacobs signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent.
Khalil Jacobs took a winding path to the NFL, starting at South Alabama before finishing his college career as a captain at Missouri. He went unpicked in the 2026 NFL draft but signed with New England as an undrafted free agent, giving him a shot to make the Patriots' linebacker room.
Path to the league
Jacobs began his college career at South Alabama in 2022 before transferring to Missouri ahead of the 2024 season. He briefly entered the transfer portal in January 2024 after head coach Kane Wommack left for Alabama, but withdrew days later before ultimately committing to Missouri that May. After going unselected in the 2026 NFL draft, he signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent.
Career highlights
At South Alabama in 2023, Jacobs posted 56 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. A torn pectoral cut short his first season at Missouri in 2024, limiting him to the early part of the schedule. He returned in 2025 to earn a captaincy, a testament to his standing within the Tigers' locker room.
2025 season recap
Playing all 13 games as a Missouri captain in 2025, Jacobs recorded 47 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, adding a pair of quarterback hurries and pass breakups. He started against SEC opponents including South Carolina, Auburn, Oklahoma and Virginia, earning a career-best Pro Football Focus grade along the way. He now heads to New England looking to carve out a roster spot as a rookie.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Khalil Jacobs
- Patriots.com: Khalil Jacobs
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Missouri
- Hometown
- Jackson, MS, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
