Jalen Tolbert
Jalen Curtis Tolbert is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. 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. Tolbert did not become a starter until his senior year, where he finished the season with 37 receptions for 696 yards and nine touchdowns. 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.College career
Tolbert redshirted his true freshman season at South Alabama after suffering a knee injury in preseason training camp. In the 2019 season, he entered the starting lineup as a redshirt sophomore and finished the season with 27 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns. 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 and eight touchdowns. Against Arkansas State, he set a school record with 252 yards on ten receptions and three touchdowns. In 2021, he was again named first-team All-Sun Belt and the conference's Offensive Player of the Year after surpassing his own school records and leading the conference in receptions, receiving yards and yards per reception, while scoring eight touchdowns.Professional career
Tolbert was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round, 88th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. As a rookie, he appeared in eight games and one start, recording two receptions for 12 yards.In Week 9 of the 2023 season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Tolbert scored his first career touchdown on a seven-yard reception. In Tolbert's second season, he appeared in all 17 games and six starts, recording 22 receptions for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns.
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. Tolbert finished the season, appearing in all 17 games and 15 starts, with 49 receptions for 610 yards and seven touchdowns.
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.