Deep Jacobs football team full of confidence

Updated: August 23, 2011 8:50PM

The transformation of Jacobs’ football program under coach Bill Mitz may have merely started with an 8-3 playoff season in 2010.

The former Stevenson coach could have a team on the verge of something completely unprecedented in Golden Eagles history based on returning talent and a new level of off-season commitment from players.

“Our weight room strength has increased significantly, and the big thing is we’ve had a lot of guys get involved in track and field in the spring to improve their conditioning and they’re telling me they can tell the difference,” Mitz said.

Considering the Golden Eagles have 14 returning starters and they have a full year in Mitz’s system, any increased level of strength and conditioning could make Jacobs one of the favorites with Prairie Ridge and possibly Crystal Lake South in the Fox Valley Valley.

Players return at virtually every skill position on offense, starting with third-year quarterback Jason Judson.

“He learned a lot last year,” Mitz said. “Switching offenses was a big change for him but now he understands what he‘s trying to do. The seven-on-seven was good for him and he‘s built himself up, ran track and is a lot faster.”

Senior running back Caz Zyks, a 5-foot-9, 182-pounder, returns after an 1,102-yard junior season, and senior fullback Kyle Wright also returns as a running, blocking and receiving threat.

When Judson throws, he’ll have senior tight end-linebacker Henry Gigeous and junior receiver Jake Gierlak back as targets.

The offensive line lost a few players to graduation, but senior tackle Maciej Kozlowski and junior tackle Adam Kulon and senior guard Jake Cha are back. At 6-5, 285, Kozlowski is attracting some small Division I interest, although he hasn’t had an offer yet. Starting guard Adam Yans (6-3, 265) also has decent size, and Jacobs may be able to mix it up with larger teams better than in a few of it losses last season.

“We’re not backing down from anybody,” Mitz said

Senior linebackers Tyler Heiss and Brandon Bishop and Kulon, comprise an experienced, returning linebacker corps. Senior safety Cam Bokowy and senior cornerback Brandon Vincent return on defense.

They’ll add a newcomer in Connor Conzelman, a basketball player who has come out for the sport for the first time and put on weight and strength enough that he’s become a starting safety at 6-1, 205 pounds.

Mitz looked at his team’s depth and could only marvel at the transformation from last year.

“We coaches were talking and after coming over from Stevenson I was looking on the sidelines during a game and we had 34 guys,” Mitz said. “That’s something I wasn’t used to. This year we have 60. We’ve got 70 freshmen and 40 sophomores, so our numbers are up.”

Mitz overall sees a Jacobs team far more prepared and confident to face teams like Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake South and Cary-Grove.

“I really feel in my heart we are a lot better than last year,” he said. “You know, I would have to say Prairie Ridge has got to be the favorite. I felt they were one of the better teams we played all last year and when we played them we just weren’t ready.”

This year, he doubts that type of problem won’t occur — against anyone.

“Our confidence is high,” he said. “We did a lot of team building things, like a three-day camp with 80 players at Carthage College. I think they believe in each other a lot more.”

Jacobs
Golden Eagles

2010 record: 8-3

Coach: Bill Mitz (8-3 in second season)

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