The San Benito High alum kept his signing decision close to the
vest
— even his parents didn’t know. But with three caps displayed
atop a table at the Gavilan gymnasium Wednesday morning, Jacobson
delivered another shocker when he chose Washington State over the
University of Arizona and the University of Nevada at Reno.
GILROY
Wade Jacobson threw his father a curveball on Wednesday morning.
About an hour before he’d sign a National Letter of Intent to play Division I college football next season, the Gavilan College tackle slipped a false hint.
“I told my dad right before I left I wanted to go somewhere close,” Jacobson recalls. “He gasped. He was thinking Reno or San Diego (State).”
The San Benito High alum kept his signing decision close to the vest — even his parents didn’t know. But with three caps displayed atop a table at the Gavilan gymnasium Wednesday morning, Jacobson delivered another surprise when he chose Washington State over the University of Arizona and the University of Nevada at Reno.
“When I talked to him last Sunday, it was Arizona and Reno,” Gavilan football head coach John Lango said. “I talked to him [on Tuesday] and he basically told me [Washington State] is where he’s going.
“They had been there all along.”
Jacobson, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound offensive tackle, recently took a whirlwind trip up and down the West Coast, from Pullman, Wash., to Reno, Nev., to San Diego and Tucson, Ariz. He made no official visit to San Jose State, which also offered him a scholarship, although he said he’s been there plenty of times before, unofficially.
It was Washington State that met Jacobson at home before his official visit, though, then went the extra distance by making a second visit on Sunday night.
“Instead of a football team, it was more like a family,” Jacobson said. “The coaches are there as coaches, but they’re there during the offseason as well. It makes the flow a lot easier.”
Jacobson’s decision did let out a light gasp from the 30 or so people in attendance on Wednesday morning. It’s unknown as to how many curveballs Jacobson threw to his family and friends that were present prior to the signing.
“I was a little surprised. I honestly thought it was down to Arizona and Nevada,” said assistant offensive line coach Clayton Johnson, who helped coach Jacobson this past year and recently played O-line at Reno as well. “I think he’s out to enjoy the challenge of turning it around (at Washington State). I think they did a pretty good job recruiting him.
“Right now, I’m happy for him.”
On Monday, Jacobson weighed the pros and cons of the five schools he had offers from with offensive line coach Andy Gonzalez.
“I said Washington, and he said, ‘I think so, too,'” said Jacobson, who plans on enrolling in classes at the Pullman campus in January.
“Our goal as a staff was to make sure his decision was educated,” Lango said.
The Cougars are coming off a dismal 2009 campaign in which they compiled an 0-9 record in the Pac-10 and 1-11 overall — its lone victory a 30-27 overtime win against Southern Methodist.
But with just two years of athletic eligibility remaining, Jacobson said earlier this week that playing time, team chemistry and education would all be of great importance in his decision. A qualifier out of high school, Jacobson plans on double majoring in criminal justice and sociology.
“I know Washington State isn’t doing well right now, but they’re on the rise,” Jacobson said. “You’re playing the best of the best players in the Pac-10.”
Jacobson’s stock certainly rose the last two years out of high school. Weighing roughly 220 pounds his senior year, the former Haybaler figured his football-playing days were all but over.
But fast forward two years, the Hollister product and JC transfer had five offers on the table from big-time schools, not to mention two offers earlier this season from San Jose State and the University of North Carolina.
“If you’re good enough, they’re gonna find you,” Lango said. “Arizona and Reno, those are good football programs. But he felt confident in Washington State, and if he’s good, the NFL will find him.”
——
It was reported by the Associated Press on Wednesday afternoon that Washington State also signed offensive lineman David Gonzales out of Fresno City College.
