Jalen Tolbert

Jalen Tolbert

Tolbert with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024
No. 1 – Dallas Cowboys
Position	Wide receiver Return specialist
Roster status	Active
Personal information
Born	(1999-02-27) February 27, 1999 (age 26) Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school	McGill–Toolen (Mobile, Alabama)
College	South Alabama (2017–2021)
NFL draft	2022: 3rd round, 88th overall pick
Career history
Dallas Cowboys (2022–present)
Awards and highlights
Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year (2021) 2× First-team All-Sun Belt (2020, 2021)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2025
Receptions 83 Receiving yards 991 Receiving touchdowns 9 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jalen Curtis Tolbert (born February 27, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Alabama Jaguars and was selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Early life

Tolbert was born on February 27, 1999, in Mobile, Alabama. He attended McGill–Toolen Catholic High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. ^[1] Tolbert did not become a starter until his senior year, where he finished the season with 37 receptions for 696 yards and nine touchdowns. ^[2] He was rated a two-star recruit and initially committed to play college football at Jacksonville State, before choosing to attend the University of South Alabama. ^[3]

College career

Tolbert redshirted his true freshman season at South Alabama after suffering a knee injury in preseason training camp. ^[4] In the 2019 season, he entered the starting lineup as a redshirt sophomore and finished the season with 27 receptions for 521 yards (leading the conference with 19.3 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. ^[2] In the 2020 season, Tolbert was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference as a redshirt junior after catching 64 passes for 1,085 yards (both school records) and eight touchdowns (tied the school record). ^{[5] [6]} Against Arkansas State, he set a school record with 252 yards on ten receptions and three touchdowns. ^[7] In 2021, he was again named first-team All-Sun Belt and the conference's Offensive Player of the Year (South Alabama's first) after surpassing his own school records and leading the conference in receptions (82), receiving yards (1,474) and yards per reception (18.0), while scoring eight touchdowns. ^[8]

College statistics

South Alabama Jaguars
Season	GP	Receiving
		Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2017	0	DNP
2018	5	5	60	12.0	0
2019	12	27	521	19.3	6
2020	11	64	1,085	17.0	8
2021	12	82	1,474	18.0	8
Career	40	171	3,140	17.6	22

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in (1.86 m)	194 lb (88 kg)	32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m)	10 in (0.25 m)	4.49 s	1.49 s	2.58 s	4.24 s	7.08 s	36.0 in (0.91 m)	10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Sources: [9] [10] [11]

Tolbert was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round, 88th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. ^[12] As a rookie, he appeared in eight games and one start, recording two receptions for 12 yards. ^[13]

In Week 9 of the 2023 season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Tolbert scored his first career touchdown on a seven-yard reception. ^[14] In Tolbert's second season, he appeared in all 17 games and six starts, recording 22 receptions for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns. ^[15]

In Week 5 of the 2024 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Tolbert caught the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard pass with 20 seconds remaining in a 20–17 road victory. ^[16] Tolbert finished the season, appearing in all 17 games and 15 starts, with 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns. ^[17]

In Week 4 of the 2025 season against the Green Bay Packers in overtime, Dak Prescott threw a 34-yard pass to Tolbert on the sideline. Tolbert's reception put the Cowboys at Green Bay's 5-yard line, the drive resulting in a field goal as the Packers took possession and ended the game with a 40–40 tie.

Professional statistics

Regular season

Legend
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2022	DAL	8	1	2	12	6.0	8	0	0	0
2023	DAL	17	6	22	268	12.1	45	2	1	0
2024	DAL	17	15	49	610	12.4	48	7	0	0
2025	DAL	5	4	10	101	10.1	34	0	0	0
Career		47	26	83	991	10.2	48	9	1	0

Postseason

Legend
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2023	DAL	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

References

1. Thomas, Ben (August 1, 2016). "McGill WR Jalen Tolbert, Blount LB Zsajuan Powe commit to Jacksonville State". AL.com . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
2. Stephenson, Creg (December 3, 2020). "High school teammates meet again in South Alabama-Troy 'Battle for the Belt'". AL.com . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
3. Thomas, Ben (February 1, 2017). "McGill-Toolen WR Jalen Tolbert turns down Spartans, signs with South Alabama". AL.com . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
4. Stephenson, Creg (August 21, 2017). "South Alabama freshman WR Jalen Tolbert out for season with knee injury". AL.com . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
5. Stephenson, Creg (April 8, 2021). "Jalen Tolbert embracing role as South Alabama's go-to guy in 2021". AL.com . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
6. Crisan, Corey (September 9, 2021). "How BGSU can slow South Alabama NFL prospect Jalen Tolbert". The Toledo Blade . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
7. Trapasso, Chris (November 30, 2020). "2021 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Stock Watch: Tylan Wallace flashes full skill set, Jalen Tolbert has monster game". CBS Sports . Retrieved September 23, 2021.
8. Stephenson, Creg (December 2, 2021). "South Alabama's Jalen Tolbert named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year". AL.com . Retrieved January 3, 2022.
9. "Jalen Tolbert Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
10. "2022 Draft Scout Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
11. "Jalen Tolbert 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
12. Archer, Todd (April 30, 2022). "After a call from Dak Prescott, receiver Jalen Tolbert had a feeling he'd be a Cowboy". ESPN.com . Retrieved May 4, 2022.
13. "Jalen Tolbert 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
14. Inabinett, Mark (November 6, 2023). "Jalen Tolbert scores his first touchdown for Dallas Cowboys". AL.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
15. "Jalen Tolbert 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
16. "Prescott throws TD pass to Tolbert with 20 seconds left to lift Cowboys past Steelers, 20–17". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
17. "Jalen Tolbert 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2025.

External links

• Career statistics from NFL.com  ·  ESPN  ·  Yahoo Sports
• Dallas Cowboys bio
• South Alabama Jaguars bio