Sharks Signal Caller Returns to Jacksonville
September 30, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Jacksonville Sharks News Release
The ArenaBowl XXIV Champion Jacksonville Sharks announce the return of quarterback Omar Jacobs for 2012.
Jacobs (6'4, 225) rejoins the Sharks after his rookie campaign in 2011 behind Aaron Garcia. In that rookie season, Jacobs saw action in 8 regular season contests completing 18 of 24 pass attempts for over 275 yards and seven touchdowns. Jacobs' accuracy (152.6 quarterback rating) completed 75% of his passes and threw no interceptions. Also a threat on his feet, he added a rushing touchdown, as well.
"We are very excited to have Omar back," proclaimed Sharks' Head Coach Les Moss. "Omar was a great addition to the team last season and was an integral part in us winning a championship. He did not get a whole lot of playing time, but when he did, he showed his abilities to be an excellent quarterback in the AFL."
Jacobs' rookie season in the Arena Football League was not his first indoor action. Jacobs had several accomplished seasons at quarterback in the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA), a minor league indoor football league. In two seasons, Jacobs completed 383-of-672 passes (57%) for nearly 4,000 yards and 109 touchdowns. In 2008, Jacobs was named league Most Valuable Player and led his team to a league championship being named the championship MVP.
Jacobs saw limited action as a true freshman accounting for six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing). Jacobs' impact surfaced as a sophomore in 2004 where he completed over 4,000 yards passing with 41 touchdowns. He finished the season as one of the nations top passers, third best in pass completions (309) and passing yards (4,002), the nations most touchdown passes and best touchdown-to-interception ration. As a junior, Jacobs was named a preseason 2nd team All-American and a preseason candidate for the Maxwell, Walter Camp and Heisman trophies. He was a semi-finalist for the Davey O'Brien award in 2005, but his productivity was reduced due to an injury to his shoulder.
Jacobs opted to forego his senior season to enter the 2006 NFL draft. He left as Bowling Green State's all-time leader in passing touchdowns (71) and third all-time in passing yards (6,938). He still holds the sixth best passer rating in NCAA history (162.5).
Drafted in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacobs was released after training camp and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad where he spent the 2006 NFL season. In 2007, Jacobs signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and was allocated to NFL Europe with the Berlin Thunder. An injury forced him to miss the entire preseason and was then released. Jacobs signed with the Florence Phantoms (AIFA) in 2008 and most recently played with the San Jose Wolves (AIFA) in 2010.
"We look forward to a very healthy competition in the quarterback position this season," Moss added. Jacobs joins Chris Leak as one of the Sharks' quarterbacks. Both quarterbacks developed collegiately under head coach Urban Myer. The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season tickets for the 2012 season are now available, two tickets as low as $135. To reserve your season tickets or for more information please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and Twitter @jaxsharks and the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance
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