Pro Football: Escambia's Jacob Copeland signs with Minnesota Vikings
An Escambia football alum has found a new team in the NFL.
Jacob Copeland, who graduated from Escambia in 2018, was signed by the Minnesota Vikings on Monday. The signing comes after Copeland was released by the Tennessee Titans Copeland on Wednesday.
Copeland was not drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, but signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent immediately after. Both parties agreed to contract terms on May 12.
The Initial Signing: Escambia's Jacob Copeland, UWF's David Durden sign to NFL teams as undrafted free agents
Transfer to Escambia: Prized recruit Jacob Copeland withdraws from Pine Forest
While at Escambia, Copeland had 45 receptions for 1,010 yards and 10 touchdowns during his senior year. Copeland also had 10 punt returns for 333 yards, four of which he returned for touchdowns. He was a four-star recruit and the No. 5 receiver in the nation, according to ESPN. Copeland was also named the PNJ Offense Player of the Year.
Copeland’s commitment, which already gained national attention due to his prominence, went even more viral after selecting the University of Florida. He chose Florida over the University of Alabama and the University of Tennessee.
Copeland redshirted his freshman year at Florida, and during the 2019 season he had 21 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Over the next two seasons, he had 58 receptions for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns.
He entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season and then committed to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he had 422 receiving yards and three touchdowns before announcing his intent to enter the NFL Draft in December 2022.
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on Twitter (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Minnesota Vikings sign Escambia alum Jacob Copeland
