1976 Profile: Jerome Barkum

Wide Receiver
No. 83
Jackson State
"He was the team's second best pass catcher, depending on his speed to run by the defense. 'But,' says a coach, 'zone defenses keep the Barkum speedsters in front of them by sagging. Barkum must run patterns with more discipline to catch the ball in front of the zone."

-John Devaney, Schenley Pro Football Guide 1976

"One of pro football's premier wide receivers, Barkum is big, fast and agile. He slipped statistically in 1975 after leading the Jets in receiving in 1973 and 1974.
Jerome caught 36 passes for 549 yards, a 15.9 average, and five touchdowns. He enjoyed his best yardage game against San Diego, catching six for 88 yards. Jerome caught two touchdowns against New England and two against Baltimore, including a 42-yard bomb.
In 1974 he hauled down 41 passes for 524 yards and three touchdowns from his left wide receiver position. His total ranked him seventh in the AFC and fifth among pure wide receivers. Barkum has already made one Pro Bowl appearance (1973). He is known as one of pro football's strongest wide receivers and is a fine blocker. Jerome can also double as a tight end.
Jerome has had some great games against the Colts; in eight contests, he has caught 21 passes for 402 yards, a 19.1 average, and four touchdowns. In his Pro Bowl year, he led the AFC in average yards per catch with 18.4. Jerome had his finest pro day that year with eight catches for 83 yards against Cincinnati. He already has 16 career touchdowns.
He started 45 consecutive regular season games before missing the Minnesota game in 1975 with a charley horse but has started every subsequent game. A No. 1 draft choice in 1972, Jerome spent his rookie season as a backup on both sides after missing valuable training camp [time] by reporting late.
Jerome caught 128 passes for 2,130 yards and 27 touchdowns in his four-year college career, notching 10 touchdown receptions as a senior. He was a teammate of Jets tight end Richard Caster and played in the Senior Bowl and the East-West Game. Barkum was an AP Little All-America and All-SWAC for two years, and a Pittsburgh Courier All-America.
Nicknamed 'Gee,' he's the cousin of Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions. His brother Melvin was a quarterback and running back at Mississippi State and tried out for Tampa Bay in 1976. Jerome holds the high school record of 30 rebounds in a basketball game. He enjoys music, swimming and fishing. His hometown is Gulfport, Mississippi."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide