Finally healthy, Taivon Jacobs could shine at WR for Maryland football in 2016

Maryland football starts its season in 36 days. Until then, we're profiling every player on the roster in our Profiles in Terpage series.

Taivon Jacobs, wide receiver

Height: 5’9

Weight: 165 pounds

High school: Suitland High School

Year: Redshirt junior

Jersey No.: 12

How he got to College Park

Jacobs had an almost unheard-of route to Maryland, switching from a major college football power to stay home. The Suitland, Md. native committed to Ohio State in the summer after his junior year, but flipped to the Terps shortly before National Signing Day.

Chief among the factors pulling him to stay home was his infant daughter, then one-year-old Bailey. The fact that his brother Levern was on the team already didn’t hurt either.

“Taivon has a child,” Jacobs’ mother said at his commitment ceremony, via InsideMdSports. “As parents, sometimes we have to make tough decisions, not always for ourselves but for the betterment of your family.”

Jacobs spent his first year at Maryland rehabbing from an ACL injury suffered in high school. He was a starter in the team’s 2014 opener against James Madison, but he suffered a meniscus tear during the game and was lost for that season, too.

He finally got his first full season of action in 2015, where he played in nine games and started three, making 21 catches and averaging 12 yards per reception.

A career highlight

Caleb Rowe placed a ball perfectly for him, then he was able to outrun his defenders on this 70-yard touchdown against USF.

2016 prospectus

Maryland enters the season with several quality receivers, but Jacobs will get a chance to show off why was such a highly-touted recruit. His brother Levern seems a lock to start, but the other two starting receiver spots will probably be some combination of D.J. Moore, Taivon, Malcolm Culmer and Tino Ellis. Taivon has the athletic ability to keep up with any of them, and will likely get to return some kicks so Will Likely doesn’t get too burnt out playing in all three phases of the game.

What a dream season would look like

Jacobs grabs a starting spot next to his brother, and use his speed to make some big plays on screens in Walt Bell’s offense. He also makes an impact in the return game and secures his spot as Likely’s heir to the punt and kick-return throne.

Next in the series...

Had the second-most carries of the team’s running backs last season.

Standings

Reborn479-11

PeachesTerp-9

Testudbro-5

apgibson24-5

Scaletta-4

jayman88-4

TerpDonkey-4

MurderlandBoy-3

ImFromMarylandAndNobodyCanBeatMe-3

jgoldy17-3

terpcommenter-2

amaymon27-2

RedTurtle-2

ezra2141-1

Mr. Papageorgeo-1

Carolina-1

PMatt-1

EricPat-1

Cyfi98-1