On December 26th, 2017 when the Green Bay Packers picked up wide receiver Jake Kumerow, Packer fans were ecstatic. Kumerow is well known in the Badger State from his days dominating division III football at UW-Whitewater. Kumerow started the 2018 offseason as a folk hero and slowly started gaining serious trust with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now in his second year with the Packers, he is ready to take it to the next level and not just be a preseason contributor.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
When you’re a Division III player, the dream of making it to the NFL is a longshot. However, Whitewater isn’t your normal DIII school. They are a powerhouse. Winning national titles in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014. Even while dominating the competition, it is still hard to get noticed. Although, when you rack up 144 receptions, 2447 yards, and 33 touchdowns in your final two years, scouts will start to take notice. It wasn’t just the stats that had scouts interested though, Kumerow comes from a big-time football family. Jake is the son of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Eric Kumerow. He is also the nephew of former Dolphins defensive end John Bosa, meaning he is cousins with Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa and San Francisco 49ers rookie, Nick Bosa. With that bloodline along with winning back to back national titles and being named Division III offensive player of the year, many scouts were placing a 7th ground draft grade on him.
Early NFL days
Kumerow ended up going undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft and was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals. Bengals fans grew attached to him early on when he stood out in training camp even with a deep wide receiver room. Ultimately, Kumerow was unable to stick on the 53-man roster and was put on the practice squad. That didn’t crush Kumerow’s dreams, though. He came back the next year even more driven. In year two, Kumerow felt more confident given another year of experience and a young wide receiver room. However, Kumerow was plagued with a hamstring injury that cost him reps and led to the emergence of Cody Core, Tyler Boyd, and Alex Erickson. Again, Kumerow was left off the 53-man roster for the second straight year.
Fast forward to year 3, and it was another injury he had to deal with. On August 9, 2017, Kumerow was waived by the Bengals after suffering an ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve. He was ultimately released on September 22, 2017, with an injury settlement. Then on October 26, 2017, Kumerow was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad. Just a couple weeks later, he was released on November 9, 2017. To say the least, Kumerows first three seasons in the NFL did not go as planned.
Wisconsin homecoming
Year four for Kumerow was his make or break year. His first three seasons were filled with injuries, and he was unable to stick on an NFL roster. Now coming back to the state where he played his college ball he knew time was running out on showing he can make it in the NFL.
With the Green Bay Packers drafting three rookies, J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown, it was another uphill battle for him to make the team. 2018 training camp was the first time he was fully healthy and he instantly impressed in Packers camp. Packers quarterbacks fell in love with him because he was ahead of all the rookies with knowing the playbook and all his assignments. in the 2018 preseason Kumerow led all wide receivers with 190 yards receiving.
Packers Jake Kumerow for the 82-yard TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/7qYxfGZGV5
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) August 17, 2018
Kumerow burst on to the scene and dominated the preseason. Unfortunately, on his 82-yard touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he ended up somersaulting into the end zone and hurting his shoulder. Another injury for Kumerow. This one hurt the most. He was on the brink of making a name for himself and making an NFL roster for the first time. Instead, the injury placed him on IR with a chance to return after eight weeks. Demoralizing, but Kumerow did what he could and rehabbed his shoulder. The Packers ended up having a disappointing season and called up Kumerow off IR. He tallied eight receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown, ending the year strong after the injury in the preseason.
Jake Kumerow scores his first NFL touchdown ? pic.twitter.com/Xbisp4CVvH
— The Brew-City Army (@brewcityarmy) December 23, 2018
Year five is SHOWTIME
It’s year five for wide receiver Kumerow, and he continues to impress everyone around him. Jaire Alexander was raving about him this offseason while witnessing first hand what he’s capable of.
“Jake Kumerow, he’s a beast,” Alexander told Wilde. “Cool. Cool guy, a competitor, I really like his hands, his routes. He’s real good. He’s one of those sleeper kind of receivers, (where) you don’t really expect it. Shoot. He’s definitely good.”
Kumerow impressed the coaching staff so much so that in the fourth preseason game they didn’t have him suit up. He was being considered a lock to make the team. With a receiver room of Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Trevor Davis, and Darrius Shepherd, expect Kumerow to be making plays this season. From DIII reciever to a preseason star who battled with injuries, Jake Kumerow is now set to make plays in the regular season for the Green Bay Packers and Rodgers.
If you don’t believe me, maybe Rodgers will convince you.
Aaron Rodgers really likes Jake Kumerow.
via @packers pic.twitter.com/olk6QyaWD5— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) June 12, 2019
Jeremy Hoffman is a writer covering the NFC North for PFN. Find him on twitter at @HoggNFL.