/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62707284/Dc7Z5V6WAAAVbxR.0.jpg)
Ohio linebacker Jestin Jacobs provided Hawkeye fans with plenty of storylines during the course of his recruitment. After originally committing to Iowa back in May, things seemed to be fairly quiet. Jacobs took his official visit to Iowa City with a slew of other commits in June. That seemed to be the end of things.
Then came Jacobs’ senior season at Northmont High School. It was a very good season with 38 tackles, 4 sacks and a fumble recovery on defense. He also garner plenty of ettention at running back for Northmont, who finished the year 10-2.
As the season neared an end, that attention really started to pick up as Jacobs was named an Army All-American. That’s about the time Hawkeye fans started to worry.
A few days later, home state blueblood Ohio State offered a scholarship. When Jacobs decided to visit for the Michigan game, most assumed he was all but a Buckeye. When he returned for an official visit a couple weekends ago, his fate was surely sealed.
But then the unthinkable happened. The Hawkeyes didn’t pull their scholarship offer and Jacobs didn’t waiver in his commitment, instead reaffirming it last week. Today, it’s official.
Bucked the rest for the Hawkeye State – LB Jestin Jacobs | #Swarm19 https://t.co/wAIrCXFeUH pic.twitter.com/qT4tMchD1P
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) December 19, 2018
Jacobs is a big time get for the Hawkeyes, as you might guess by the Ohio State offer and the Army All-America invite. He’s a 4-star according to 247 Sports and brings a lot of athleticism and quickness to the linebacker spot.
Jacobs projects nicely as an outside linebacker in a role similar to that played by Djimon Colbert this season. At 6’4” and north of 200 pounds already, he has an excellent frame to fill out. If he can keep his foot speed and ball skills while doing so, he will be very good for the black and gold.
Jacobs is the only member of the class of 2019 from the state of Ohio. He joins Jack Cambell of Iowa in the class’s haul at linebacker. The Hawkeyes are expected to add another to the group on signing day or in the late period.
Jacobs is an early enrollee and will be on campus this January.