Embracing aggressiveness, Curtis Jacobs 'at home' at Will

Not wanting to give away any classified information, Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs declined to specify his position this spring.

Meeting with the media Wednesday evening following practice, the third-year was speaking about 20 yards from his new defensive coordinator. Asked the same question about Jacobs’ role on the defense, Manny Diaz had no problem acknowledging his circumstances.

“He’s at home at Will,” Diaz said. “I think he’s made for the spot. I think it fits his athleticism. He’s an intelligent guy, understands what’s going on, can cover, can rush, and can run.” 

Curtis Jacobs’ winter workout approach

Jacobs has worked to make sure of it this offseason.

Embracing the defensive approach espoused by Diaz since his December arrival to the program, Jacobs is a svelte 6-foot-1, 227 pounds this spring. Down slightly from his playing weight that had been 230 pounds last season at the Sam, the move into the box hasn’t altered Jacobs’ primary objectives on the field.

And in having Diaz as a coach, who has been “big on tackling, big on stopping the run… and just aggressiveness,” Jacobs has found a fit.

“I just wanted to get faster. When I talk about getting bigger and certain weight things, I feel like that doesn’t matter,” Jacobs said. “It is your heart and if you want to tackle the guy. 

“I just wanted to show that I’m as fast as I can be, and be sideline to sideline because that’s been my strong suit since I’ve been here and I want to improve.”

That has especially been true of Jacobs’ demeanor entering his third full year in the program.

First arriving at Penn State in the summer of 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, Jacobs made an immediate, if somewhat limited, impression with the Nittany Lions. Finishing with eight games played in the shortened season, Jacobs earned 64 total snaps and seven tackles through the campaign as a backup to Lance Dixon. 

Wanting to take the next step following the season, Jacobs said he dialed in his intent while finding his footing during the offseason. He’s looked to build upon it this cycle, understanding that importance to his development.

Spring’s next steps

“I came into last spring feeling like I had a chip on my shoulder, trying to earn a spot,” he said. “And I’m coming in this spring with the same approach, same chip on my shoulder, same aggressiveness, same doing everything I need to do. I just have more of a leadership role now.

“Spring is incredibly important. I felt like that point last year is where I made my initial mark, and I kind of took off since then. So I want the younger guys to look at me as a story to the follow and just take it from there.”

For the first time in his career, the “younger guys” are more plentiful than those of Jacobs’ stature.

Losing Ellis Brooks this offseason, Jacobs represents the most returning experience at the position by a considerable margin. He’s been left to guide Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King as they battle for the Mike spot. That, of course, while establishing a comfort level for himself with new responsibilities.

Asked to lay out his goals between the spring practice’s midpoint and its end, those are the ones that took precedence for Jacobs.

“It’s having a firm control on the defense. Being able to be perfect in my pre-snap stuf. Be perfect in my post-snap stuff,” Jacobs said. “It’s just chasing perfection from an execution standpoint.”

Should Jacobs accomplish as much, he brings the potential to the field that Diaz is excited to see in action this fall.

“To me, when you’re looking for what you want a Will linebacker to be, he kind of ticks all those boxes,” Diaz said.