Interview: 5-Star 2022 Louisiana ATH Jacoby Mathews Covers Season and Recruiting
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Another year, another showcase season on the gridiron for Ponchatoula standout talent Jacoby Mathews. The Class of 2022 five-star recruit lit up 5A Louisiana teams during his sophomore run after hauling in 26 passes for 626 yards with 10 touchdowns while also ending 98 plays on defense with 12 passes broken up and five picks. The 6-2, 200-pound, athlete was needed at quarterback for the Green Wave during the 2020 schedule producing, as one would accurately presume. Mathews connected on 62 passes for 898 yards with 10 touchdowns and rushed 75 times for 679 yards with 12 trips into the end zone and even hauled in a 5-yard TD pass.
Top college football programs across the country have zeroed in on Mathews’ abilities with 27 extended.
For an update on his season and recruiting process, Mathews stopped by the RNG Lab for another detailed conversation.
*Click link for previous RNG interview with Jacoby Mathews
Interview
Jacoby, you tore it up as a receiver during the 2019 season and went back to quarterback for the 2020 campaign. How did the season go for you in the pocket going against 5A Louisiana teams?
It went pretty good. We lost our first game to Brother Martin; they are a good team. Ahead of that one, we did not watch enough film. When we started watching film and preparing better, everything started clicking. We started winning games and went into the third round of the playoffs. We took a hard loss in the playoffs, we had a lot of injured players. My season in the pocket went very well.
What was the offensive philosophy of the Green Wave in 2020?
We were unstoppable. We knew we could score when we wanted, because we were loaded with talent. In the offense, we could throw when we wanted and when we ran the option, they had three people that had to try to stop. We always capitalized on offense.
You and Braydon Johnson made a great one-two punch out of the backfield getting the majority of the team’s 2,170 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns on the ground. Your wheels helped produce 241.1 rush yards a game. How did that part of your game explode helping your team move the ball down the field game after game?
A lot of times we played against great defenses. If they saw us drop back to pass, they’d drop back into coverage. To win and get first downs, I needed to run. If I am mobile in the backfield, I can pick up yards and move the ball downfield with my legs. It always works for our team to have a QB that can run. Braydon, they were playing against him. I knew I would have to take over for us to win games running the option.
When you were dropping back, what were some of the routes you were throwing to within the offense?
A lot of digs, slants, replace routes, and go balls. We did a lot of quick game routes, unless corners were pressing our two big receivers.
How did your skills as a passing quarterback improve during the season?
At the beginning, I admit, I was shaky. I had a good first game against Brother Martin, but still needed a lot of work. It took repetition for me to improve and get comfortable. I was working with different trainers during the season on my technique. Doing that, my passing got way better middle of the season.
What were some of the changes you made or technique points that you firmed up during the season that helped you?
Everything was good except my footwork and hips. My throwing motion was before my hips. Once I got the footwork down, everything got into place.
I love it. The offseason for the Green Wave began in early December, what have you been working on with your skillset over the last month?
Right now, I am in basketball season. I go to my trainer in New Orleans, we are working on flexibility right now.
With basketball, how is the season going?
Basketball pretty good. We won our first district game, a home opener.
What workouts have you been doing to add more speed and agility to your game?
I do a lot of stuff with the hurdles, that helps with my hips. I have also been working on my 40 with my trainer. My last 40 was a 4.49. A 4.3 is the goal.
That would be awesome. Going into recruiting. The offers continue to flow in for you, how many do you have now?
I believe I have 27 now.
Which programs were the last couple to offer you?
Oklahoma and Cincinnati.
Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?
Florida, TCU, SMU, and Texas.
*Mathews picked up offers from TCU and Florida after the interview was conducted
Mathews’ Offer Sheet: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Miami, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Tulane, Utah, and Virginia
At which position are you receiving most of the offers?
Safety.
When the dead period is over, are there any programs you’d like to go visit?
I’d love to visit Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, and Cincinnati.
Jacoby, always great catching up with you. Wishing you success with your basketball season and with your offseason workouts until we talk again.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Mathews family; Jacoby Mathews