JR Film Notes: DT Commit Jacob Lacey
It's alwasy easy to forget the guys who are already on-board in a recruiting class. For Jacob Lacey, it's going to be at least another eleven months before he can sign with Notre Dame and he's been committed since last summer.
This is a reminder to everyone who might have forgot about Lacey that they should be very excited that he is going to wear blue and gold during his college career. He is a baller.
I was incredibly impressed with the improvements he made as a junior. It followed up on how he looked when watching him compete last May at The Opening Cleveland where I liked what I saw as well.
He is an explosive disruptor in the interior of the line. The biggest knock against him is that his arms are short, but he flashes quick and powerful hands. He is so much better with that aspect of his game. It's something he will need to be great at to excel at the college level and it's a fantastic sign of things to come that it's already on display before his senior season.
His first step is awesome and he wins right at the snap of the football.
It's that snap anticipation combined with athleticism that makes me believe he is capable of playing 3 tech. I project him to play 1 tech at Notre Dame, but be brings additional value that he can play both spots. Here he is lined up as a 3 tech and the backside tackle has no shot at cutting him off because of this great get off.
I see someone that is strong enough at the point of attack that he can be a two-gap player while also being a potential one-gap penetrator that can play in the opposing backfield often.
I love his effort. He is a high motor kid that isn't deterred by extra attention. While he still needs to get better with his hands, he's constantly trying to work moves and counters as a pass rusher and he flashes very good lateral quickness.
This play with him fighting against a triple team says it all about Lacey as a football player. He gets stopped with his initial rip because of the second blocker, but keeps fighting and eventually gets the sack. It's a three man rush and the one guy who is being blocked by three guys ends up making the play.
He still has some work to do with his physical development and has to refine some technical aspects of his game, but I love his athletic traits and his effort. I haven't finalized my initial ISD Fab 50 for 2019 yet, but there is a good chance Lacey will find his way on that list.
I graded him out at 94 (4 star) and can't wait to see where he takes his game this offseason and in the fall for his senior season.