Jacob Copeland enters this season as the top receiving threat for the Florida Gators. He will have to increase his production to account for Florida’s losses of key pass-catchers to the 2021 NFL Draft. But, who is Jacob Copeland? He never received much attention from the national media, so this year will present a new challenge to him as he eyes the NFL. Check out how Copeland rose to this stage and his outlook for this season.
Earlier Years
Copeland attended Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida, but he was unable to win a state championship during his tenure there. As many know, Copeland’s mom walked out on his commitment when he chose Florida over other schools such as Alabama and Tennessee. She feared that going to Gainesville would lead to Jacob furthering his involvement in gangs. However, Copeland has shown promise in school and is edging closer to his childhood dream of playing in the NFL.
During his true freshman year, Copeland only appeared in three games against Idaho, Florida State, and Michigan. He ultimately decided to redshirt as he rarely saw the field on offense or special teams. Feleipe Franks was the starter for the Gators in 2018, so the limited passing game kept Copeland on the sidelines.
As a redshirt freshman, Copeland played in all 13 games during the 2019 season. He finished with two touchdowns and more than 300 yards, but he was still far back on the depth chart at wide receiver. However, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, which is a big accomplishment for any student-athlete.
Copeland entered the 2020 season as a redshirt sophomore, and he played in all games except the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma. He was Kyle Trask’s fourth receiving threat behind the likes of Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney, and Trevon Grimes. Last year, Copeland scored three touchdowns and ended with 435 yards, so it became clear that he would be Emory Jones’ primary target this season. Nonetheless, Copeland will likely have to adjust himself to a new offense under Dan Mullen in 2021.
This Season
The Florida Gators’ offense will be more balanced this season with Jones at quarterback. Expect Copeland to be more involved in both the running and passing games much like previous years. While Copeland is not necessarily a competitor for the Biletnikoff Award, he is bound to have a great season and increase his stock for the 2022 NFL Draft.