LOGAN, Utah – Utah State graduate running back Javen Jacobs has been named to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List, it was announced on Thursday. The watch list features 89 players.

The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. 20 semifinalists will be selected on Tuesday, Oct. 13, by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee with the winner being announced at the award ceremony of spring of 2027.

Jacobs, a native of Chandler, Ariz. (Saguaro HS/New Mexico), has played in 36 career games, including 13 at Utah State in his first year with the Aggies in 2025 and starting USU's 2026 season opener against Idaho State.

Jacobs is actively involved in community outreach in Cache Valley. Some of the many endeavors he volunteers for include:

• Thursday Hero: Honoring Local Heroes
• Aggies Led Elementary Pen Pal Program
• Financial Literacy Workshop with Renaissance Financial
• Family Fun Day community engagement initiatives
• USU Football Service & Development programming
• Easter Service projects
• Food insecurity and backpack support initiatives
• Leadership, wellness, and student-athlete development programming

Jacobs was also nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and was named to the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. He was named to the Athlon Sports Preseason Pac-12 second team as a running back and to the third team as a punt returner, and to the Phil Steele Preseason Pac-12 second team as a punt returner and to the third team as a running back.

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