Interview: 2022 California OL/DL Talent Jacob Edmonds Impresses Earning League Lineman of the Year
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
As a player and as a coach, you love having guys like Jacob Edmonds on your team. Not only is Edmonds a versatile player for Vacaville but his also an impact player. At left tackle, the 6-4, 293-pound, lineman swallows up defenders with his pass protection and puts dudes on roller skates in the ground attack. Flipping the field, Edmonds is that attitude setter at nose guard taking on blocks while reshaping the pocket giving opportunities for himself and teammates to get after the opposition. His junior season was a great success earning first team offensive and defensive lineman taking on California Division II competition. The total effort put forth was so impressive coaches named him Monticello Empire League Lineman of the Year.
As college programs find Edmonds, the Class of 2022 talent is working on his game with a heavy lean as an offensive lineman. The growing skills mixed with his offseason workouts will be on display this summer at college camps up and down the west coast.
Interview
Jacob, you are as physical of a player as it gets on both sides of the line. During the week, how do you keep your body right considering all the work and pounding you put on yourself in any given game?
The first thing I do, I go to my dad’s work, he runs a nursing home facility with cyrotherapy machines. I do that almost every day. I ice a lot, take warm and cold showers, and take Epsom salt baths.
Whether on offense or defense, your feet are faster than even the more highly recruited players. How have you developed quick feet over the years? Does it come from playing another sport?
Yeah, I am a three- sport athlete; football, baseball, and basketball. I have been a skinner guy growing up. Growing up I was playing defensive end, some tight end, and some running back too. Playing those positions, I always worked ladder drills. I converted to an offensive and defensive lineman my sophomore year. That’s when I got focused in the weight room and in the kitchen a lot.
Lining up at nose and tackle for the Bulldogs, you were able to collapse the pocket putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and stuff the run. What do you feel are the strengths to your game on that side of the ball?
I play a lot of nose guard; we are not in the 4-front much. I have strong legs. Right now, I am squatting 530. I am good at run defense and I can bull rush. This offseason I am working with a defensive line trainer to convert pressures to sacks. I want to do more than just pressure the pocket, I want to convert those to sacks this year.
Back to your feet and technique but going over to offense; I like how you move and slide at left tackle with your pass-protection. Another big thing I see is your patience allowing the end or linebacker to come to you without getting out over your toes. What are some of the other strong points to your pass-pro?
We just switched from Wing T to a passing offense in the Spread. That was something that I had struggled with was over setting. I went to a camp and something the coaches said there clicked with me. They said no one deserves two pass sets. I was giving up the inside. Now I am holding them and clamping them in from going to another move.
When it comes to run blocking, you do a great job of locking on and burying guys. Did you count your pancakes and/or knockdowns during the 2020 season?
I did not. Guessing I averaged five or six a game though.
Although you do not go up against offensive tackles as a defensive lineman, how has playing both ways helped you on both sides of the ball?
I am an offensive lineman mainly; my body has told me that and I have been told that I will be used at next level as an offensive lineman. Playing on the defensive line helps with my footwork, speed, and staying low. We do step over drills to keep your feet fast, that keeps me flexible, low, and with fast feet.
As a defender, what are you working on with your technique this spring?
I am working on a lot of setting up my pass rush and not going straight to a bull rush. I have been working with a trainer. He’s not letting us touch the offensive lineman setting up the move.
What about with your blocking on offense?
I have been working a lot on being patient, not oversetting, kick steps and my angles. With my angles, I am working on going 45 degrees or with less of an angle. I am working on kicking back and setting, and not letting them go inside or around me.
A couple of minutes ago you shred your max on squats, what are your other maxes?
My deadlift is 555 three times. Our coaches like sets of three instead of a single rep to help prevent injury. I got 285 on power clean; that was a one-time rep max. I also got 275 on bench three times.
Have you been to any national camps this offseason or have any coming up you may attend?
I have not been to any yet, but the first one coming up I am going to is at Dixie State in Utah. Then I am going to another one in Utah and then to a Nevada camp. That Nevada camp is a mega camp.
Are there any other college camps you may go compete at this summer?
Yes, BYU June 14-16 is one. I have signed up for a couple others: Stanford, UCLA, UC-Davis, and Utah.
Which programs are showing interest ahead of your busy camp schedule?
I have been in contact with UC-Davis, Army, Navy a little bit, BYU, Southern Utah, Dixie State, UCLA, and Nevada.
Very cool. Separate from the camps, are there any visits you may take this summer?
BYU is one. I want to meet with their coaches. Mike Cody at UC-Davis has asked me to visit as well.
Jacob, thank you for your time today. Wishing you success this summer with the camps and the visits.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Joel Rosenbaum/Edmonds family; Jacob Edmonds