Ryan Jacoby should still be in high school. Instead, he’s packing on the pounds as he gets ready for his first spring with the Ohio State football team.
The Mentor, Ohio, product is one of six early enrollees for the Buckeyes this year, having graduated high school early in order to get a head start on his collegiate career. Jacoby arrived in Columbus in early January at 282 pounds and, as of Wednesday morning, had already added about 10 to his frame.
“It’s been kind of crazy,” Jacoby (6-5) said of the physical transformation he has undergone during winter workouts at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. “I came in 282-ish and I’m at 291 this morning at 5 a.m. A month today we got here. I’m constantly eating. I’ve got this pizza right here, that’s for later. The weight room, they’re incredible.”
Jacoby had added weight so quickly that he’s actually already hit the weight goal the coaches laid out for him. In fact, he’s overweight – by a pound at least.
The four-star prospect, who has been working at offensive tackle so far, noted that his goal could change in part because he has proven the ability to gain weight quickly – and it’s not just about gaining the weight, but doing it the right way.
For now, Jacoby is focusing on his offseason program as he adjusts to the life of a college student. He might have a chance to play as a freshman – Ohio State is slightly thin in terms of depth at offensive line – but that’s a battle for another day.
“Potentially, but that’s not what we really want to focus on,” he said. “I just want to be the best I can be, gain the amount of weight they want me to, build the amount of strength I need to be in to perfect my technique.”
