Diamond in the Rough: Jacob Wells

Jacob Wells is an offensive lineman from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, La. The class of 2021 recruit stands at just over 6’5 and weighs in at a bulking 300 pounds. Wells was a rotational player along the Bears offensive line last season. A season that saw them run all the way to the state championship game. Literally, the Bears had one of the best rushing attacks, in Louisiana, last season and that started upfront with the offensive line. Wells tells me he has a 235 pound clean, a projected 250 pound bench press, and a 310 pound squat. Wells currently has a 3.57 GPA, and a 25 ACT.

CHECK OUT HIS FILM HERE.

When did you start playing football?

I started playing football when I was in the fifth grade. It wasn’t really a sports team, I went to a really small school down in Grand Coteau, between Opelousas and Lafayette. It was a rec team at a local high school, there was only three teams and we would play every Saturday. So we would just kill each other in a tournament style event, and that’s when I first got my football exposure to an actual football team. I’d say throughout seventh grade. Then because of my size, I wasn’t allowed to play, I guess they didn’t want anybody to get hurt. Then I went to Catholic High and started playing football.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

If there was a sport, I was playing it. Basketball, soccer, baseball, football. Pretty much everything.

Did you always play offensive line, or did you play any other positions?

Because of my size when I was younger, my coaches always put me at defensive line, offensive line, kickoff return, punt return. I was basically in the whole game.

Going back this last season, what were your goals?

My goals last season, were to learn as much as I could. We had a really good group of guys on our first string rotation last year. But overall, my goas were to get my pad level a little lower, and get my feet quicker. Just average O-linemen goals.

Who would you say are some of your biggest influences?

Definitely my coaches and teammates, and former teammates like Brian Hibbard and Joseph Alexander. They’re positive role dudes. Coaches, Coach Fertitta always encouraging me to do my best. Coach Marlon (Favorite) and Coach Skyler Green they are all pushing me as well.

Who is your favorite NFL player?

Cameron Jordan, I know he is a defensive player and I am an offensive player. But, I just like the mentality that he brings to every play, and the physicality, can’t be matched in my opinion. I would say he strives to do his best with leaving it all on the field.

Speaking of leaving it all on the field. What motivates you the most?

Mainly my teammates. When you are on the line, especially the offensive line your teammates push you to do your best. That QB in the backfield, you have to protect him at all costs. That is what motivates me the most, my teammates. Coach Marcus Hibbard, my wrestling coach, he sat me down to have a talk with me to find that anger deep inside of me, that aggressiveness, that physicality to just leave it all out there.

On a scale of 1-10, on game day what would be your ideal performance number?

I’d say it would have to be a ten, but realistically it would probably be a nine. But ideally you want it to be a ten. Like Coach Fertitta says, ‘On the line football, no excuses, leave it all out on the field’ have that mentality, get to work, and get stuff done. ‘Four quarters times twelve minutes’ that’s a Coach Fertitta catch phrase.

What do you love about football?

I love the added sense of Brotherhood, the team, the bond that everyone shares with each other. It’s like a web, you can go to anyone of your teammates if you’re struggling, even if you’re out of football. They’re always there for you. I also love staying active with it too.

At the end of this coming year, what would you want your coaches and teammates to say about you?

I would like them to say that I have improved greatly since I started. I would want them to say they were proud of me, and that I left it all out on the field.

If you weren’t playing football, what sport do you think you would be playing?

I wrestle now as well as play football, so probably wrestling.

Anything you want to add?

I missed a lot of my freshman spring practices because I was ill. I think the work I am doing now with Coach Marlon (Favorite) is helping me catch up with that. He has me changing my skills, to the point where I feel like a have a really good shot at a starting opportunity.