Jacob Huesman is expecting a life-changing phone call today.
He doesn't know when. Or from whom. Or even what someone may be offering him.
He's just confident that call will come.
The former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga quarterback hopes his name is one of the 155 called in the final day of the 2016 NFL draft, but even if not, the 6-foot-1, 226-pounder knows an opportunity will be presented to him.
Huesman also knows that opportunity most likely will come via free agency after the draft, but he said he plans to watch the entire draft.
"It's what I've always dreamed of," he said this week in an exclusive interview with the Times Free Press. "When I was a kid, I dreamed of being the first pick in the draft. That's not realistic, but I've always wanted to have an opportunity however I could make that happen, and now it looks like I'll have a pretty good opportunity to do that."
The three-time Southern Conference offensive player of the year threw for 8,197 yards - a school record and third most in conference history - while completing over 67 percent of his passes, a SoCon record. He also had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons, with his 1,244 yards in 2015 trailing only Derrick Craine, who rushed for 7 more yards, for the school record.
Huesman used his big frame and 4.52 40-yard-dash speed to rush for 4,051 career yards and 43 touchdowns, both school records, and his athletic ability could lead to another position as a pro, possibly H-back or safety. The son of UTC head coach Russ Huesman - a defensive back during his own UTC playing career - Jacob did some DB drills when he participated in Tennessee's pro day recently.
It was something he wasn't prepared for but quickly adjusted to.
"I was pretty surprised," he admitted. "It was something that had been talked about, but I didn't know I was going to jump into it at that pro day. I didn't have the opportunity to get ready for it; it was pretty fun, though."
His last memory of playing defensive back wasn't the best one. As a Baylor School senior in the Division II-AA state championship game, Huesman jumped and corralled an Ensworth pass in the end zone. As he was landing, Tigers receiver David Dingess reached in and got both hands on the ball, which brought in the simultaneous-possession rule, awarding the catch to the offense. An interception would have forced overtime, but the catch gave the Tigers a 28-21 victory.
"Unfortunately, that's my last memory of (playing DB)," Huesman said. "It's been a while, but I think it's something I can do. I think I can pick up on it pretty easily."
But offense is where he likely will end up. As a possible H-back, he'll have an opportunity to make plays - be it by receiving or blocking, or running the ball. He's heard from "about 10 teams" with possible interest in his services. He wouldn't divulge which ones, but the interest shows he should have a new home at the end of the day.
Former UTC coach Buddy Nix, a former NFL general manager and now a special assistant for the Buffalo Bills, speculated this week on Chattanooga's "Press Row" radio show that Huesman will get an opportunity, although at what position he couldn't say.
"Nobody has a home when they get to the NFL," Nix said. "You have an opportunity to make yourself one, whether it's in the first round or in free agency. Once you get into camp, it's what you do from then on, so I think Jacob will get an opportunity and I think he can make himself a position. I don't think he would want me deciding what that is, but from a professional standpoint, you look at him and think he'll certainly be on the offensive side of the ball - maybe H-back, maybe a move guy, a fullback-type guy.
"He's got good hands. He's got a lot of really outstanding qualities; he's a good leader; he's a smart guy, tough, big, can run. He's all those things, so I think there's certainly a spot for him. If he gets an opportunity, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him make himself a place."
Huesman would love that call to include plans to involve him as a quarterback, and that may happen. He doesn't know what today holds, but he knows he graded well in all the athletic drills at UTC's pro day and threw well at Tennessee's.
"I had good feedback - mostly positive stuff," he said. "I think I did better running and moving around than people thought. Definitely helped my case.
"It would be awesome to get a call about playing quarterback. That's obviously ideal because it's what I've been doing the last 15 years, and I think somebody will give me an opportunity.
"I'm just trying to stay optimistic about it. I want to play in the NFL any way I can."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.