Kawaun Jakes
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 28, 1990 |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. Augustine (St. Augustine, Florida) |
| College | Western Kentucky (2008–2012) |
| NFL draft | 2013: undrafted |
| Career history | |
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |
Kawaun Jamale Jakes (born February 28, 1990) is an American former football quarterback. He played college football for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Early life
Jakes attended St. Augustine High School in St. Augustine, Florida. As a senior, he threw for more than 2,200 yards and 24 touchdowns.[1] Following his graduation, Jakes committed to play college football at Western Kentucky University.[2]
College career
After redshirting in 2008, Jakes made his first career start against Navy on September 26, 2009, after starter Brandon Smith suffered a shoulder injury. He completed 22 of 28 pass attempts for 276 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for 44 yards and another touchdown in a 38–22 loss.[3] In 2009, Jakes played in 11 games, making eight starts, and passed for 1,516 yards while accounting for 14 total touchdowns.[4] Prior to the 2010 season, Jakes sustained an ankle injury while playing pickup basketball.[5] Despite the injury, he was named the Hilltoppers' starting quarterback.[6] Jakes started all 12 games in 2010, throwing for 1,680 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He retained the starting quarterback job entering the 2011 season.[7] After throwing four interceptions in the season opener against Kentucky and struggling against Navy the following week, Jakes was benched in favor of Brandon Doughty.[8] Doughty started the following game against Indiana State but suffered a season-ending knee injury after three plays. Jakes entered in relief and threw for 237 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the 44–16 loss.[9] Against rival Middle Tennessee, he threw for 222 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime to lead Western Kentucky to a 36–33 victory.[10] Jakes finished the 2011 season passing for 1,854 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Against Kentucky in 2012, Jakes led the Hilltoppers to a 32–31 overtime victory, successfully executing a trick play on the game-winning two-point conversion.[11] He finished his final season with 2,488 passing yards and 22 touchdowns.
Following the conclusion of his college football career, Jakes joined the Hilltoppers basketball team due to a shortage of players.[12] He appeared in two games without recording any statistics before leaving the program.[13]
Statistics
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2008 | Western Kentucky | Redshirted  | |||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Western Kentucky | 11 | 8 | 0–8 | 148 | 244 | 60.7 | 1,516 | 6.2 | 9 | 9 | 117.6 | 125 | 362 | 2.9 | 5 | |
| 2010 | Western Kentucky | 12 | 12 | 2–10 | 149 | 291 | 51.2 | 1,680 | 5.8 | 10 | 6 | 106.9 | 96 | 210 | 2.2 | 4 | |
| 2011 | Western Kentucky | 12 | 11 | 7–4 | 153 | 276 | 55.4 | 1,854 | 6.7 | 10 | 12 | 115.1 | 72 | 161 | 2.2 | 2 | |
| 2012 | Western Kentucky | 13 | 13 | 7–6 | 200 | 312 | 64.1 | 2,488 | 8.0 | 22 | 11 | 147.3 | 66 | 58 | 0.9 | 3 | |
| Career | 48 | 44 | 16−28 | 650 | 1,123 | 57.9 | 7,538 | 6.7 | 51 | 38 | 122.5 | 359 | 791 | 2.2 | 14 | ||
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft, Jakes attended rookie mini-camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[14]
References
- ↑ "2010 WKU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "16 Incoming Freshmen Sign National Letters-Of-Intent With WKU Football". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Resurgent Dobbs Leads The Way for Midshipmen". The Washington Post. September 27, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Former SAHS star Kawaun Jakes named starting QB at WKU". St. Augustine Record. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Jakes' injury opens door for QB". Bowling Green Daily News. March 31, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ Greenwell, Zach (August 31, 2010). "The Prodigal Quarterback: WKU's Jakes redeems himself". WKUHerald.com. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Former St. Augustine High School QB Jakes to lead Western Kentucky in 2011". St. Augustine Record. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Jakes benched in loss". Bowling Green Daily News. September 11, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Jakes back as team's No. 1 quarterback". Bowling Green Daily News. September 22, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ staff, From. "College football alumni watch: Duane Brady, Kawaun Jakes, Tarek Odom turn in solid weeks". St. Augustine Record. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ Willis, Kevin (September 16, 2012). "Big Red in the Bluegrass State: Hilltoppers Win in Overtime at Kentucky". WKU Public Radio. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ Aulbach, Lucas (December 28, 2012). "Jakes, Vasquez added to basketball roster". WKUHerald.com. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Kawaun Jakes to Focus on Football Future". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
- ↑ Street, Turner (May 6, 2013). "Former SAHS standout Jakes getting a shot with Jaguars". St. Augustine Record. Retrieved July 18, 2026.