Coach: Jacob Lacey Has "Outstanding Work Ethic"

Jacob Lacey‍ was on the recruiting board for Notre Dame and several other college programs for a long time, dating back to his days as an underclassman at South Warren High School in Bowling Green, Ky.

The 2019 defensive tackle, who signed with the Irish last month, visited South Bend four times before the end of his sophomore year.

“I think he became a national recruit because he played early,” South Warren head coach Brandon Smith said of Lacey. “He played and started as a freshman, so he had some varsity film out there for people to see. He had the size, he was already a big kid, he was already 290 pounds. It wasn’t like you had to imagine him putting on weight.

“He was performing at a really high level, making big-time plays and moving at a really good speed for that weight. He was just a baby face, you could tell he was going to get bigger, faster, stronger. I think that allowed him to become a national recruit at a very young age.”

Besides the size Lacey was blessed with, he’s put in the work to maximize his potential, a quality Smith is sure will serve him well on the next level.

“He’s got outstanding work ethic,” the coach said. “He’s not going to miss a beat when he gets to college. It’s kind of a culture shock for some guys, but for him, I don’t think that’s really going to be the case. He’s self-motivated and driven. He’s never satisfied, he’s always working on his craft and trying to get better.

“He really became very good at technique and the fundamentals of the game of the position besides getting faster and stronger. He really figured out how to use his hands and use his hips and the things you have to do at the next level to be successful.”

Smith called the match between Lacey and the Irish “a perfect fit for both of them.”

“I think Jacob is a Notre Dame guy,” he continued. “He’s going to like that atmosphere and culture and the school side of it as well. He’s a very intelligent kid. He’s going to know how to use that to his advantage. I think it’s going to work out great for both sides.”

Lacey helped South Warren to great heights as a player and capped it by helping the school earn a state championship earlier this month.

“We’re going to miss him tremendously. It’s been a long time since we haven’t had Jacob on the team. He’s been a big factor on our team and it’s going to be different without him. I’m going to miss him quite a bit.”