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CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Saturday,
August 28, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Bradley Jacobs
By
Ron Cherubini
©2010 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
As a junior college transfer,
Bradley Jacobs knew he would be expected to come into the East Carolina program and
earn a starting position at safety. Perhaps more
daunting than coming into a new program with that pressure in place, Jacobs
was contending with the expectation that he would also try to the fill the
shoes of not just one, but two high-impact safeties. Physically, he is being
asked to step in at strong safety, where one-year star Levin Neal was a game
changer a year ago. Greater than that,
however, is the expectation that Jacobs also fill the role that all-star
free safety Van Eskridge played in his years at ECU: motivator, inspirational
leader, and enforcer in the defensive backfield. Some big shoes to fill, not
doubt. Yet, through spring and summer, and now in fall camp, Jacobs
seemingly has solidified the secondary and established himself as a leader
and a playmaker.
Bradley was kind enough to sit down
for a chat with Bonesville to share his insights on the upcoming
season.
Q: What were your first
impressions of the guys in the secondary at ECU and what were your original
expectations coming into the battle for the safety positions? Comfort level
with your new team?
A: Coming in, I knew ECU was
a blue collar school… a blue collar team that worked hard. So I just came
looking to work very hard to fit in with everyone else. I am very
comfortable with the guys I go to work with everyday here.
 Q:
What, if anything, has playing with Travis Simmons and Emanuel Davis been
like from a learning experience and jelling perspective?
A: Those two guys are great
players, great athletes and great people and they both have made my life
easier. When I got here, the explained how things work, what to expect and
gave me a lot of advice and that helped a lot and allowed me to focus on
playing football.
Q: Who on this team do you
most respect as a player and why?
A: Probably Emanuel
Davis… yeah, it would be Emanuel because of how hard he works at being great.
He works as hard or harder as anybody out here. He’s a great person and he
shows you what it means to work hard every day. I am really impressed with
him.
Q: As the front seven takes
shape, is the secondary expecting to carry the load early in the season?
A: We have a great scheme
here and we all work hard at it in practice. If that is the way it goes, if we
have to step up early on, I know we are talented and able to do it. But we
have some really great players (in that front seven).
Q: Do you sense the
championship mentality from your new teammates?
A: Most definitely. We are
all hungry for that three-peat. Even though I have not been here the past
two years, I want the same thing. I want to be part of this team winning a
third straight conference championship. That is our main goal and these guys
all know what it takes to win that championship.
Q: Who on our offense would
you not want to have to cover?
A: I would have to say Jon
Williams. He is a great athlete, he is physically tough, and comes right at
you.
 Q: You, particularly, are coming into a position where the fans are
expecting you – as a JUCO – to be one part Van Eskridge with his leadership
and brutality and one part Levin Neal with his playmaking. How do you feel
you are progressing on taking that challenge in the middle back there?
A: You know, I
take it as it comes. Those are two players who established their roles on
this defense last season and were tremendous players. I am not a real vocal
guy but I do try pick everyone up. Of course, it would be great to have the
(attributes) that those players had, but I am finding my own way here. I
have the mindset that I need to do my best and that will take me far.
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