Commitment Date: February 6, 2013
Hometown: Forestville, MD
High School: Suitland High School
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
ESPN Rank: #58 WR, 3-star
Scout.com Rank: #54 WR, 3-star
Rivals Rank: #52 WR, 3-star
247Sports Rank: #33 CB, 3-star
40 time: 4.47 secs. (ESPN); 4.40 secs. (Rivals); 4.35 secs. (247Sports); N/A (Scout.com)
Other Offers: Akron, Boston College, East Carolina, Florida State, Hawaii, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, West Virginia
Speed is the name of the game for Taivon Jacobs. Possessing sub-4.4 speed is a dream for many recruiters, as you can see from the plethora of FBS scholarship offers that he received. In July, Jacobs committed to his dream school, Ohio State. But in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day, he talked his decision over with his family. Ultimately he decided, like so many high-level prospects have over the past few years, to stay home and play for the Terps. His brother Levern also plays wide receiver for the Terps.
ESPN cites Jacobs’ best skills as being his speed and his hands. If that isn’t a combination made in heaven for a wide receiver, I’m not quite sure what is. He fits perfectly into Randy Edsall’s system. When Coach Edsall first arrived in College Park, he made it clear that he wanted to add speed to the team. Over the past two years, he has done just that. Jacobs is just another part of that speedy mentality that Edsall is instilling in College Park.
Jacobs comes to Maryland as one of many receivers vying for playing time in 2013. Coming off of recent surgery to repair a partially torn ACL, he may be best suited to redshirt his first year and hope that someone transfers or leaves early for the NFL. Just to remind people how many receivers will legitimately compete for playing time this year, the Terps have Stefon Diggs, Deon Long, Marcus Leak, Nigel King, Levern Jacobs, and now Levern’s brother Taivon. Now, it is widely speculated that the Terps will go to more 4 and 5 WR sets in 2013, especially with the lack of depth at tight end. Jacobs could see the field in 2013, and he projects to be a very solid starter for the Terps for many years to come.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.