Pitt's Jacobson's time arrives at last
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The time is now for Chris Jacobson, and he knows it. College football players only get so many chances before they are bypassed for the next big recruiting star coming through the ranks.
Jacobson was one of those big recruiting stars once upon a time. Three years ago, he was a can't-miss prospect from Keystone Oaks High School. He played in the Army All-American Game, had five stars next to his name on all of the recruiting websites and was billed as one of the top high school offensive linemen in the country.
Now, after three years filled with injuries and unsuccessful bids to earn starting jobs, Jacobson is -- finally -- 100 percent healthy and bent on seizing a starting job on Pitt's offensive line.
"I'm coming out here every day with a purpose to get better," said Jacobson, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound redshirt junior. "This is my fourth year, and it is my time. I've worked my butt off in the weight room with Buddy Morris. It's time to put my foot down and really be coachable, be physical and just hit people."
Jacobson could always do the latter. From a physical standpoint, he was ready to play when he was a true freshman, but not having a full grasp of the mental aspects of the game is what prevented him from earning the starting left guard position this past fall.
Jacobson competed with senior Joe Thomas throughout camp, but the coaches decided to start Thomas because he did not make as many mental errors.
"It was just stupid mistakes that shouldn't have been made that you want to kick yourself in the butt for," Jacobson said. "It was never the physical part. It was just some of the mental parts.
"But now the mental part is clicking. Now I look at some of the mistakes I made, and it's like, 'That's so easy. It all falls in like a puzzle.' "
Jacobson will fill one of three vacated spots on the offensive line in the fall. The Panthers also are looking for a new center and a new right guard.
First Published March 26, 2010 12:42 am
