Maryland Football: Meet the Jacobs Brothers
Dec 27, 2013; Annapolis, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Levern Jacobs (8) runs with the ball to score a touchdown as Marshall Thundering Herd defensive back Tiquan Lang (21) chases in the first quarter during the 2013 Military Bowl at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Maryland football coaching staff already knew that the complexion of their receiving corps would change greatly after the departures of Stefon Diggs and Deon Long. However, there is no way in the world they could have anticipated what has transpired thus far in the offseason. Two players, Marcus Leak and Jacquille Veii have decided to leave the program. Things couldn’t get any worse, right? Wrong. Sophomore Juwann Winfree was suspended week ago for violating the university’s student code of conduct.
Maryland is now faced with the unfortunate situation of entering the 2015-16 season without five of their top eight receivers from a season ago. So where do the Terps turn now? Well, there is a pair of brothers on Maryland’s roster who have been itching for their big opportunity. Meet senior Levern Jacobs and sophomore Taivon Jacobs.
The Jacobs boys, along with junior wideout Amba Etta-Tawo, will be asked to carry the load for the Terps in 2015. Levern, the elder brother, has some valuable playing experience, despite missing his entire junior season due to suspension for his involvement in a 2014 altercation, resulting in him being slapped with a second-degree assault charge, which he was later cleared of. Jacobs played 12 games in the 2013 season, recording 47 catches for 640 yards and three touchdowns. Jacobs led the Terps in both receptions and receiving yards that year. He is the only senior in this unit, so he will be expected to step up and be a leader for the younger guys.
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Taivon Jacobs was the more highly-touted of the two brothers coming out of high school. He was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and held offers from big-time programs like Ohio State, Florida State, and Miami (FL). He was also a track star in high school, and ran for the U.S. Junior Olympic Track & Field team.
Jacobs has only appeared in one game with the Terps. It was the 2014 season opener, as well as his first career start, against James Madison. However, Taivon suffered a season-ending injury. The coaches love his game and he’ll be looking to avenge a season cut too short.
If Terps fans do not know the Jacobs brothers by now, they surely will know them by the end of the season. The Terps have their work cut out for them in 2015, but they must practice the next-man up approach. Both Levern and Taivon have tremendous amounts of talent and the Maryland coaches are hoping those talents will be on display in the upcoming season.