Top Class of 2017 TE Jimmy Jaggers Discusses NSD with Recruiting Update

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

There are a handful of tight ends already recognized as best in the 2017 recruiting class, and Roseville High School’s Jimmy Jaggers is one of them. Rivals has identified eight tight ends as 4-star recruits with Notre Dame snatching up Brock Wright (Cypress, TX) and Cole Kmet (Arlington Heights, IL). Stanford has Colby Parkinson (Westlake Village, CA) leaving Matthew Dotson (Cincinnati, OH), Josh Falo (Sacramento, CA), Hunter Bryant (Sammamish, WA), and Jaggers left on the market as the best of the best.

The recruiting push is on for Jaggers across the country. The 6’4”, 235 pound, talent can put a hand in the ground and open up holes in the run game and can release out into the next level as a sure-handed target in the passing attack. College coaches are feeling the pressure to get Jaggers onto campus and build that one-on-one bond. To date, he has 13 offers from teams like Tennessee, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Washington State, Louisville, BYU, Arizona State, Oregon State, Northwestern, and Michigan. It was cool being there for the offer from UCLA over the summer during the Bruins 7×7 tournament.

Since his sophomore season, Jaggers has been as dedicated to the game as anyone, perhaps more than most. On the weekends during the spring he and his family drive some 400 miles one-way, or about 6.5 hours if traffic is good on the 405, from Roseville to Los Angeles so he can compete with B2G’s 7×7 teams hoping to show colleges what he can do in the passing game.

With less than a year left until his time to put pen to paper to sign his national letter of intent, I sat down with Jimmy before one of his basketball games to get his thoughts on how National Signing Day played out and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Jimmy, I know we are pressed for time here, so we’ll go quickly. What were your overall thoughts on NSD?

“I didn’t watch that many teams sign players or keep up with it too much. It makes me excited and nervous for next year. It was cool seeing all the guys from B2G and from the different camps that I’ve attended, seeing them sign. I tried to congratulate all of them. One of the kids from our high school sign too. All of it was a neat experience.”

Did you take any notes on how different teams brought tight ends into the fold?

“Yeah. I saw Michigan signed three tight ends. I think one guy was a preferred walk-on. That caught my eye. That showed me what Michigan is trying to do with their offense and how they want to utilize the tight ends. Most schools don’t sign three tight ends. All those guys are going to see the field because of the offense. That’s one school that definitely caught my eye. USC was a big one too. The way they jumped in the rankings on signing day. Washington did not have a very big signing day because all their recruits were already committed. USC had a lot like Jack Jones (5-star cornerback). I watched that because I know him from B2G. Seeing him commit to USC, that does nothing but help their class.”

I know you have 13 offers on the table. Which schools are showing interest in you right now but have not offered you yet?

“USC is. Coach (Clay) Helton (head coach) was the offensive coordinator when I visited. I worked out for him and he told me then that he liked what he saw. They were going through the head coaching changes at that time and he said they were not evaluating 2017 guys yet. He told me that I could look forward to hearing from them. Michigan State told me if I come out on campus they will offer, so I have interest in them. Wisconsin and Penn State are also showing a lot of interest.”

What visits do you have planned coming up?

“On Feb. 20 I’m going to USC. I’ll be in Los Angeles for B2G. On Jan. 28, I’m either going to Washington or Michigan, which ever one I don’t get to I will get to later. Those are the main visits that are coming up. They are not my leaders but just the main visits that I have coming up. I’m trying to go see UCLA with their new tight end coach, Coach (Rip) Scherer. I’m starting to get to know him. A lot of that kind of stuff and things of that nature.”

Alright, I know you have a game coming up, so quickly, how is basketball going for you?

“We’re alright. We’ve lost our way a little here recently. We have a young team, all juniors with no seniors. That’s a little bit of a key to our struggle but compared to our league I think we are doing alright. The way our league plays we are different in our style.”

Do you know your stat line?

“I have no idea.”

Any guesses?

“I’m doing well. The last couple of games I’ve been off. At the beginning of the season I was doing well, maybe 12-14 points a game, but I’ve dropped off some. I’d say maybe I’m averaging 8.0 points a game.”

Jimmy, good luck with your game and your upcoming visits.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Jimmy at UCLA for a 7×7 tournament.

Photo credit: Gareth Lindo photography; Jimmy Jaggers at B2G practice