After drawing over 40 offers heading into his senior year, Evans (FL) safety Brandon Jacob announced his decision to head to Maryland last Thursday where the consensus four-star will enroll in January. Rarely does the first offer prove to be the eventual landing spot for a blue-chip recruit, especially for an out-of-state target, but the 6-foot-2 safety made himself a familiar face in College Park over the last year to set the stage for his mid-summer commitment. Jacob had visited Maryland four times prior to his official visit the weekend of June 16. By the 18th, Jacob had already told the Maryland staff that he intended to continue his college career in College Park to give the Terps its blue-chip pledge this cycle. “It feels so relieving overall, man,” Jacob told IBG. “On my official visit. The more I talked to the coaches and the players, I just felt like I could see myself being here for the next 4-5 years.” Maryland’s consistent presence in Florida gave Jacob the familiarity that he needed to gradually lure him out of Orlando, but it was veteran wideout Jeshaun Jones who left an impact. “I knew Perry but I had talked to Jeshaun before. Actually talking to Jeshaun made me feel like the players here are solid, I can be here.” Maryland had another angle in his recruitment with outside linebacker coach James Thomas dipping back into the school he once played at as he and Jacob grew a tight-knit relationship. “I’m big on relationships and I’m big on my family. My relationship with him, I already liked Maryland but once I got the relationship with him, that’s when I knew that’s where I’d end up.” Safeties coach Zac Spavital also prioritized Jacob heading into his official visit. “Me and coach Spav have been talking since he got to Maryland. I feel like coach Spav can get me to the league and that’s really important. On top of that, he’s a relationship guy, family guy so that’s big on me too.” “I feel like their defense is set up for my type of ball game, with the coaches talking to me and showing me. I can be an impact for that defense.” After official visits to UCF and Texas A&M, Jacob spent time analyzing his suitors before taking another step. That led to Jacob cancelling his upcoming official to Miami (FL) and there was a clear reason why. “Honestly all my other visits, I did a pros and cons list. On my Maryland visit, I had no cons. I feel like on my visit, I knew this was the time.” Now that he’s in the fold, Maryland will look to keep the momentum rolling into the season and Jacob is doing his part. “I’ve been doing that since I committed. You don’t even have to tell me, I just want the best for the team and as a class. Me and talk a lot, we play 7-on-7 together so I’m trying to get him to Maryland. Joshua Alexander, he’s from Edgewater. I’ve been talking to him too.” Jacob is rated a four-star prospect and a 92 overall by On3, sitting as the 160th-best prospect in the country and the nation’s 13th-best safety. Related Links
top of page
bottom of page
Comments