Benedictine offensive lineman Jacobe Ward sees recruitment skyrocket

College recruiters knew about the potential of Benedictine's Jacobe Ward before he even started a game for the Cadets, as the offensive lineman had offers from Boston College and Minnesota prior to becoming a sophomore standout for BC in 2022.

Anchoring the right side of the line as a tackle, where he protected junior quarterback Luke Kromenhoek , the 4-star prospect committed to Florida State, Ward helped lead Benedictine to its second consecutive Class 4A state title in his first season as a starter.

The 6-foot-5, 335-pounder earned All-Greater Savannah first-team honors that season — as he seemingly improved with every snap he took. Already on the radar of the top college programs in the country, Ward's recruitment has blown up in the offseason as he's picked up offers from Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas and Virginia Tech, among others.

The offer from LSU in April was a turning point in his recruitment, Ward said.

"I was shocked when I got that one. I got a Twitter text and was chopping it up with the offensive coordinator and he offered me," Ward said. "My recruiting shot up after that, and I started to believe I could get an offer from any program in the country."

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His confidence grew after a trip to Tuscaloosa in June, where he met with Alabama coach Nick Saban and received an offer from the Crimson Tide.

"It was crazy to actually meet Nick Saban and have one of the greatest coaches of all time watching me take reps against some of the top players in the country," Ward said. "I had to beat those dudes to show Saban who was the best, and that gave me a morale boost."

Ward said he's improved with his footwork, speed, strength and ability to stay on his blocks and he is determined to stay focused despite living the chaotic life of a blue-chip recruit.

"I grew up wanting to live this type of lifestyle, and now it's happening," Ward said.

BC coach Danny Britt said he feels blessed to have the chance to coach a player like Ward for the final two years of his high school career.

"I'm not surprised about his recruitment because he has that size you just can't teach to go along with his strong work ethic," Britt said. "And Jacobe has really improved with his flexibility and movement. I know his dad is a big Alabama fan — so he was excited to get that offer. He's got the ability to play college ball anywhere."

Trevor Coleman, the Cadet offensive line coach, is known for his ability to develop a cohesive unit — and he knows how special it is to have Ward anchoring the line.

"He's obviously massive, just a huge kid," Coleman said. "But when a lot of athletes get to be that size — it's a detriment with their ability to move, especially laterally. But Jacobe has such good feet and a center of gravity. I've said it before -- I think he has the potential and skill set to play in the NFL someday if he continues to work hard and push himself."

Ward said he is focused on keeping his nose to the grindstone.

"I'm going to come out with the same mentality because this is an important year for me," Ward said. "And as a team, we're focused on trying to win another championship. We have to take it one step at a time and let everything play out."

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Benedictine offensive lineman Jacobe Ward sees recruitment skyrocket