As we count down from 50 days until the New Orleans Saints begin their regular season in Atlanta, on September 7th, we're getting to know a little bit about those players who have signed on to bring home another Lombardi trophy.
Today, we take a brief look at a couple of rookies: cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste and tight end Nic Jacobs!
So, with no more ado:
33 DAYS UNTIL ATLANTA!!!
#33 CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (Rookie)
A cornerback out of Nebraska, Stanley Jean-Baptiste played as a wide receiver and safety in high school, and was first signed by Nebraska as a wide receiver before being converted to a cornerback. He finished his college career with a total of 74 tackles (50 solo), one sack and four tackles for losses, 22 pass deflections, and 7 interceptions returned for 182 yards and two touchdowns. After recording 41 tackles (27 solo), a sack, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions in his senior season, he was named second-team All-Big Ten .
Considered to be one of the best cornerback prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft, Jean-Baptiste was drawing comparisons to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round. Although raw as a rookie, he has been rotating in with the first-team, and will be competing with Champ Bailey, Corey White, Patrick Robinson and Trevin Wade for a roster slot behind Keenan Lewis.
Contract:
4 yr(s) / $3,636,732. Average: $909,183 per year through 2017.
#83 TE Nic Jacobs (Rookie)
A four-star TE/DE high school recruit out of Many, Louisiana, Nicholas Jacobs stayed in-state to attend Louisiana State University for three years before getting suspended for rules violations and then transferring to McNeese State. Nic redshirted in 2010, and played mostly special teams during his time at LSU. He saw some time on offense as a sophomore, but a four-game suspension due to a violation of team rules ended his 2012 season and his LSU career, after which he transferred to McNeese State in the summer prior to the 2013 season. During his time at LSU, he recorded five receptions for 58 yards, in 19 games with one start.
At McNeese, Jacobs was an immediate starter and had moderate production as an inline tight end, finishing his junior year with 32 catches for 453 yards and four scores. He went undrafted this spring, and was picked up by the Saints in May. A physical mauler with good size and length, Nic Jacobs is a very raw prospect with average speed and strength, and more attitude than technique.