Jake Funk (born January 11, 1998) is an American professional football running back.

He also led the Big Ten Conference and ranked second among all Football Bowl Subdivision running backs with an average of 8.6 rushing yards per carry.

[1] In the state championship game his senior year, Funk scored a title-game record seven rushing touchdowns against Dundalk High School.

[5] Sources: Funk did not redshirt, and debuted in a 2016 game against Howard University where he rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Playing during for the COVID-19-shortened Big Ten Conference season, he was the team's primary option at running back after the departure of Javon Leake and Anthony McFarland Jr. to the NFL.

He averaged 129 rushing yards a game as well, ranking him second in the Big Ten and eighth among FBS backs.

[1] Despite having two seasons of eligibility remaining due to injury and NCAA policy surrounding COVID-19 and a chance to return as a starting back for Maryland, Funk opted to enter the 2021 NFL draft.

[12] Due to his perception as a primarily straight-line runner who was not particularly elusive, Sports Illustrated speculated that he would go undrafted, but could potentially find a role as a special teams player.

He's shown home run-hitting ability where he can outrace the cornerback, safeties to the end zone, to the pay dirt.

[15] In post-draft interviews, Funk indicated that he "never gave up faith," and that he was looking forward to his likely role as a special teams player.

His father, Jim, was a football player for Penn State and his mother, A’Lisa, was a national title-winning swimmer at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

[1] Funk has a brother, Jordan, who played one year of football for Army before transferring to James Madison.

[1] His half-brother went on to earn a doctorate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, he owns several physical therapy clinics in Montgomery County and assisted Funk in his ACL rehab.