Louisiana: Interview with Class of 2017 Archbishop Rummel Safety Jakobi Jones

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Archbishop Rummel is off to a 3-0 start and is widely considered one of the top high school football teams in the nation. The Raiders have wins over University Lab (24-7), Covington (48-0), and scored a big 27-16 national TV win over Wayne County (MS) last week.

Rummel is stocked full of talent in the 2016 and 2017 classes with as many as five seniors who could go Division-I come National Signing Day and another six from the junior class next year. One of the six helping pave the way to a possible Louisiana state championship and a national title is two-year starting safety Jakobi Jones.

Jones, 5’11”, 180 pounds, is a technically sound safety seemingly always where he is supposed to be to make the big play. As a sophomore he had 40 tackles, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, five passes defended, and an interception as the Raiders posted an 11-2 record going into the third round of the playoffs before losing to eventual state champs Jesuit 28-14.

Through the first couple of games of the 2015 season, Jones already has 25 tackles and four pass breakups. College recruiters have taken notice of Jones’ abilities with team like Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette, Penn, Purdue, SMU, Tulane, and Western Kentucky all showing interest.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Jakobi before Rummel’s big road game against New Jersey’s Don Bosco Prep to get an update on how the Raiders’ season is progressing and picked up a recruiting update.

Interview

Jakobi, I want to start off complimenting you. I can tell you are a student of the game. Watching you play, it is easy to tell you are reacting to what you have learned during the week to get in position to make a play.

“Yeah, I make a lot of plays based off watching film and knowing the tendencies of other teams. If a team throws a screen to the boundary, things like that, I’m picking up on that quick after watching film. Reading screens has become second nature to me. Last year we played so many teams that ran that play, it’s easy to pick up on now.”

The Raiders as a team are looking really good right now. You’re 4-0 playing sharp. In your opinion, how does the team look going forward?

“The team looks great right now. We have some work to do with the offensive line, they’re breaking in a lot of new starters. Overall we just have to keep working to get better. Like coach told us, “we’re looking good right now but we need to keep working to get better every day because we can’t be complacent. The day we are complacent is the day we will lose and the day we don’t get better.”

Looking ahead, are there a couple of games still on the schedule you are looking forward to playing?

“John Curtis (Oct. 31) and Don Bosco Prep (in New Jersey on Sept. 26).”

What is the strength of this year’s football team? Is it the offense, the defense, or something more specific like the secondary?

“The defense because there is not really a weak link on the defense. If you watch us play, people can’t throw over the top because we’re all capable of making plays. When they did try to go underneath our two linebackers picked it off (Wayne County). Our D-line with Briston gets a lot of pressure. The rest of the guys on the D-line are underrated because Briston gets so much attention being a great lineman but they are really good too.”

You already have one year of starting experience under your belt. As your experience continues to grow what are your strengths on the field as a safety?

“Playing safety has forced me to be physical with receivers out on the perimeter. A lot of times we are running a Cover 3 and I’m down with the linebackers. I don’t shy away from physicality. I love making plays and just being a football player. I break on the ball well. It is rare for teams to beat us deep especially when we are in a Cover 2. It’s rare because of me and our other safety Aaron Brooks. I tackle well in open spaces too.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“My goal is to get a state championship.”

What are your personal goals?

“I want to have 50-60 tackles, at least five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery somewhere around there.”

What schools are showing interest in you right now?

“Yeah there’s a lot. Tulane, SMU, Arkansas – their receivers coach (Michael Smith) just sent me something before the game. Arizona, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Kentucky are all sending me stuff. The coaches I’ve talked to the most have been Western Kentucky and Tulane.”

What type of feedback have you received from these colleges?

“They like how I tackle. They also say the same thing you said, that I have knowledge of the game.”

Are you taking any unofficial visits to schools this fall?

“Yeah, I already took one to Tulane for their season opener against Duke. I’m trying to get up to ULL and Western Kentucky this fall. I might go to Mississippi State, they’ve been in contact with me.”

What college one-day camps did you go to this summer?

“I went to ULL, Grambling State, and Louisiana Tech – that’s another school showing interest in me. Grambling State is showing interest as well. I didn’t really go to any camps far away.”

What was your best camp from a performance standpoint?

“My best camp from a performance standpoint had to be LA Tech (Louisiana Tech) because there were a lot of one-on-ones and I won them all but one rep.”

Do you play any other sports for Rummel?

“I play a little basketball. I’m better at football though.”

What positions?

“I play shooting guard and small forward for the junior varsity.”

What NFL player do you model your game after?

“I don’t really like the NFL, I like college ball more. When I watch the NFL I like Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens).”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“I just like making plays and all the attention you get. You thrive off the fans and all the noise that they make.”

Thanks for your time today Jakobi and good luck the rest of the way.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: berecruited.com; Jakobi Jones.

Photo credit: nola.com; No. 36 Jakobi Jones and No. 28 Shahid Reece tackle a Teurlings Catholic ball carrier.