Jalen Tolbert 2022 Senior Bowl: Hometown Kid Shows Up In Mobile

Jalen Tolbert 2022 Senior Bowl: Hometown Kid Shows Up In Mobile

The Senior Bowl is THE biggest event in Mobile, Alabama every year. The town goes all out posting signs for the event seemingly everywhere. Being hosted at South Alabama is a special thing to many locals, but seeing a hometown hero show off makes it that much more unique this year. That hero is Jalen Tolbert and he put on a show at the Senior Bowl.

South Alabama’s very own Jalen Tolbert made the short trip to the Senior Bowl this year as one of the smaller names on a star-studded list of players. The wide receiver is a household name to football fans in Mobile, but less known throughout college football. Expectations were low goin into the Senior Bowl, but whatever those may have been, Jalen Tolbert blew them out of the water.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver put his speed and ball skills on display all day. Tolbert battled top-tier SEC competition against the likes of Roger McCreary and Derion Kendrick, both of whom are first-round hopefuls come draft time in April.

Liberty QB Malik Willis sticks it to South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert. Impressive rep against Auburn CB Roger McCreary.
Catch the #SeniorBowl live on NFL Network on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. CT. pic.twitter.com/6xuiG69j08

— Kam (@KamranMoos) February 1, 2022

Tolbert’s combination of size and speed impressed, but also his shiftiness and ability to get open as you can see in the clip above. Tolbert was asked how he was able to perform so well against these top athletes. Rather than answering the question head-on, Tolbert acknowledged how good those cornerbacks are, and then stated that he’s excited to go against Jim Thorpe Award winner Coby Bryant during the Senior Bowl game Sunday.

South Alabama WR Jalen Tolbert showing out so far. Blows by defender here and makes the play. Pretty deep ball from San Howell
Catch the #SeniorBowl live on NFL Network on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. CT. pic.twitter.com/DABG7ljV6Z

— Kam (@KamranMoos) February 1, 2022

After the exceptional showing was over, Tolbert was swarmed at the podium by local fans and NFL Draft media alike. When asked what he thought about his performance, Tolbert replied, “I just went out there and made a play.” The modest hometown hero may move onto to being popular throughout the nation if he keeps this level of play up.