LITTLE ROCK — Seth Jacobs has mentioned Arkansas as one of his top teams since an unofficial visit to Fayetteville in June, and the linebacker/safety from California is gearing up for next week’s official visit, the weekend South Carolina plays Arkansas.
Jacobs, 6-2, 205, 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Arroyo Grande High School, has approximately 15 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Arizona, UCLA, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Arizona State and California.
“I’m still interested,” said Jacobs, who officially visited Arizona State this weekend. “I’m still looking forward to my visit. I still feel strong.”
Jacob’s father, Jimmy, is originally from Tulsa, where he played football for Larry McGee, father of Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, at Tulsa Washington.Seth Jacobs still has numerous family members in the city, including his grandmother, Sandra Davis, who gave Jacobs a Razorbacks watch.
“I laughed,” Jacobs said. “It was funny. I just laughed and said, ‘thank you,’ because that was my birthday gift.”
Jacobs said his grandmother wouldn’t mind seeing him at Arkansas.
“She would love it.”
Jacobs recorded 106 tackles, 3 interceptions, 4 pass breakups, 4 sacks and a forced fumble as a junior. In 8 games this season, he has 84 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble while having 16 carries for 206 yards, 3 touchdowns and 11 receptions for 213 yards and 1 touchdown on offense.
He had to be moved from outside to inside linebacker.
“They have me inside just so I can cover more field,” Jacobs said. “Because a lot of teams we play tend to run away from me so they’re putting me at inside backer so I can get more tackles.”
Jacobs was unable to watch Arkansas’ 42-38 victory over Texas A&M, but he did see a replay of the Hogs coming back from a 35-17 halftime deficit..
“I was impressed with that,” Jacobs said. “They came back strong. They were just doing the little things right. In the first half they weren’t doing that. “
Jacobs said he has felt wanted by Arkansas during the recruiting process and has been told how he could make an impact for the Hogs.
“If I work my butt off and do what I can to come in do well, I could come in and play.” said Jacobs, who’s being recruited by defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.
A year of maturity, experience and being a four-year starter in high school has slowed the game down for Jacobs.
“I’m probably little bigger than last year,” Jacobs said. “Last year I was confident because i was there for two years before that, but now going into my fourth year of varsity it just feels different.”
COMMITMENT ENDORSED
National basketball recruiting analyst Van Coleman of Hot100hoops.com is high on the talents of forward JaCorey Williams, who went public with his oral commitment to Arkansas late Wednesday night.
Williams, 6-8, 190 pounds of Birmingham, (Ala.) Central Park, chose the Razorbacks over Alabama and 12 other scholarship offers.
Coleman rates Williams as the No. 79 prospect in the country, saying he is long, athletic and with the ability to shoot and handle the ball well.
“He’s the kind of athlete that can break in the lineup,” Coleman said. “That’s the kind of potential he has. ... A lot of people didn’t see him because there wasn’t a lot of the national people at the AAU’s; for whatever reason they passed on the AAU’s this year. Other than the ESPN people, nobody else was there but myself.”
Coleman said he thinks Williams could be a steal forthe Hogs.
“He’s a kid who I think has a chance to really push that great class from last year,” Coleman said. “Those kids are going to have to play well to keep him out of the lineup.”
Coleman said Williams is comparable to Iowa forward Melsahn Basabe, who earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors last year.
“I think JaCorey Williams is advanced of Melsahn coming into Iowa,” Coleman said. “They have similar bodies although now Melsahn picked up some weight. If JaCorey picks up weight and keeps his athleticism, it’s scary.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 31 on 10/30/2011