How 4-star LB Curtis Jacobs is poised to lead Penn State football’s 2020 recruiting class
Curtis Jacobs can’t get enough football in his life. The four-star linebacker from Owings Mills, Maryland, engulfs himself in the sport whenever he has the chance, doing whatever he can to achieve his ultimate goal of playing in the National Football League.
“I live and breathe football, so I’m always doing something that’s going to improve my game,” Jacobs told the Centre Daily Times, “whether that’s watching film, lifting or getting extra work in.”
For Jacobs, who goes to high school at McDonogh School, that meant picking a college that could put him in a position to succeed and achieve his dreams. That led him to Penn State.
“I chose Penn State because it’s the best situation for me to take the next step toward my dream to be an NFL player,” Jacobs said.
The Maryland native had plenty of options to choose from when he picked the Nittany Lions, with 20 scholarship offers listed on his 247Sports player profile, including schools like Florida and Notre Dame. Instead of taking either of those routes, Jacobs is set to sign with the Nittany Lions Wednesday as the highest-ranked player in their 2020 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
He’s the No. 44 player in the country, according to the rankings, and the No. 5 outside linebacker. Even with his standing among his peers, Jacobs said he did his best not to involve himself in others’ decisions and instead show them why he loves Penn State and leave it at that.
“I’m not big on recruiting other guys because at the end of the day it’s more about encouraging them to make the best decision for them and their family,” Jacobs said. “So I just try to show them how great PSU is and it’s up to them if they want to be a part of this.”
Jacobs’ ability to show people why he loves Penn State is similar to his leadership style and personality. He was on McDonogh’s leadership council over the past two years and set an example for his teammates by showing them what it takes to be great, according to his high school coach, Hakeem Sule.
“He would do anything he could to get out on the practice field and lead by example,” Sule told the CDT. “He was one of the first guys out there every day to practice. He was in the weight room every morning at 6 a.m., along with other guys in the offseason. That’s a college mindset. That’s a mature mindset.”
Sule said Jacobs’ personality made his life much easier as a coach, especially when the team struggled in 2018.
“He’s very humble,” Sule said. “He’s respectful and a joy to be around. This year is a prime example of his personality. After we went 3-6 last year, and in this climate of high school football, it would’ve been easy for Curtis to move on or look for a different opportunity, whether it be at one of these sports academies, or wherever. But he settled down and asked what we need to do to get better and win. He felt like he wanted to bring the fight back to McDonogh football. He really took it upon himself and embraced his leadership position.”
The high school senior’s love for Penn State was apparent early on in the recruiting process, according to Sule.
“I know the (Jacobs) family really well,” Sule said. “The family is a loyal family. Once you earn their trust, they’ll stick with you 100%. I remember him coming back from a visit to Penn State and saying, ‘Coach I think I’m gonna shut it down.’”
Jacobs’ admiration for Penn State turned into a commitment to head coach James Franklin on Feb. 2 of his junior year. His belief in Franklin, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brent Pry, and their family atmosphere played a major role in his commitment.
“I always feel like I’m around family when I’m up there,” he said. “And I truly believe that Coach Franklin and Coach Pry see greatness in me and have a plan for me to take the next step.”
Sule helped facilitate contact with schools when they showed interest in Jacobs, but he mostly stayed away from his recruiting process, allowing he and his family to make the decision that best fit their needs.
However, Sule, who played for Maryland from 2006-09, overlapping with part of Franklin’s second tenure at the school, didn’t hesitate to answer whenever Jacobs had questions about the recruiting process, and was especially helpful with insight into some of the Penn State coaches.
“I know a bunch of those guys,” Sule said. “Franklin was my offensive coordinator in college, (Penn State tight ends coach) Tyler Bowen was my teammate, (assistant athletics director, performance enhancement) Dwight Galt was my strength coach, so there’s a lot of connections up there. I know those guys very well.”
Sule’s relationship gave Jacobs the information he needed to join the class, but Sule made sure not to influence the choice he made.
“My style is to stay out of (recruitment),” Sule said. “All I do is present the coaches to the players and families. My job is to make sure these kids go out and conduct their own research.”
While the senior linebacker was helping his high school to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the conference championship, he also found time to visit his future home. Jacobs has been on campus at Penn State several times since his commitment as he continues to build his relationships with the staff and his future teammates.
The high school senior said his Oct. 19 visit — the White Out game against Michigan — that left him awestruck.
“The White Out for sure (stood out),” he said. “Hands down one of the best experiences in my life. I could hear the crowd from a mile away through the car window. It was an insane atmosphere.”
Soon enough, Jacobs will run out of the tunnel with his new Penn State teammates and have a chance to play in front of the same crowd he once stood among. He’ll play with many of the players he watched in the 28-21 Penn State victory and some of his 2020 recruiting classmates, a class currently ranked No. 12 in the country and No. 3 in the Big Ten, in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
If his high school career and recruiting rank are any indication, the best for Jacobs is yet to come.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 6:36 PM.
