By Jimena Panduro, UF Communications
It is said that when a person gets knocked down, they have to get right back up.
Before his career even took off, senior defensive lineman Damien Jacobs had to put this statement to the test, as a series of unfortunate circumstances prevented him from enrolling in the school he had committed to: Florida State.
Unable to join the ranks of becoming a Division I athlete at the time, Jacobs opted to head to a junior college, where he played at East Mississippi Community College.
In his two years representing the Lions, Jacobs became a force to be reckoned with, particularly during his second season. Not only did he record 47 total tackles, eight for loss, four quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and two sacks, he also led the team to an undefeated season. One that culminated in the biggest reward of them all: the NJCAA National Championship.
To this day, winning that title is still one of Jacobs' proudest moments; one that he regards as high as only two other things in his life.
“I can probably say there are three things that are equally tied in importance,” Jacobs said. “One, winning the state and national championship in junior college. Two, being able to come to a school like Florida and play. Three, seeing my parents being proud of me all of the time. Those are the three things that have and still make me feel the best in life.”
One of the main reasons why Jacobs considers these as so vital is because the road to get there and attain these feelings of pure bliss was not easy.
Jacobs knew that he wanted to move onto a bigger Division I program after junior college. Nonetheless, the scrutiny he faced from outsiders, those who once had considered him an incomparable talent, was not kind to the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Louisiana native.
“There was a lot of negativity but I overcame all of it by sticking to the plan and knowing that I could make it. It got me down at times but every time it got me down, it also motivated me to not let it happen. I never gave up just because someone had written me off. There are always going to be people that sit back and tell you what you can and can't be or can and can't do. It happened to me but I overcame it all and never listened. I can be an example to someone else.”
Defying the odds and the heavy criticism, Jacobs got the Division I offer he so deeply longed for, and narrowed his choices to a pair of Southeastern Conference schools: Florida and Tennessee.
“I chose Florida because I felt that this place was the most real out of all the places I visited. Being around the people and the coaching staff, it was more of a home atmosphere and environment, and I felt they were telling me the truth. That's why I chose to come here,” Jacobs acknowledged.
Once donning the Orange and Blue, Jacobs has found comfort in a place that perhaps wasn't in the original plan, but turned out to be the absolute best fit and more importantly, his forever home.
“I'll always represent this place and will always talk about it,” he said.
Possessing an agility and 'old-man strength,' as former Gator defensive tackle Omar Hunter put it; have proven to be great assets for Jacobs on the football field. Although he is dominant and intimidating, he is also just a good-hearted guy.
For a quick example that showcases his personality and his big heart, one just needs to listen to what happened after the Gators' victory over Tennessee this past September at The Swamp.
A young fan stood by the fence waiting for the players to exit the field after the game with the hope of meeting some of his heroes. Several approached the area and started greeting the kids. This young fan asked Jacobs for his sweaty towel. Jacobs told him to wait a minute for he would return with a towel for the boy. A few minutes later he came back, towel in hand, and gave it to the child. Jacobs thought nothing of this, as it seemed like a nice, simple gesture that anyone could do.
A few weeks later, however, a letter arrived to the football offices that rendered Jacobs speechless.
It was a letter from the young boy's father; a letter thanking the Florida players for being so willing to spend some of their time after the game approaching the children and fans around. It was specifically a letter thanking Jacobs for making his son's day.
In the letter the father stated that “this will be a memory his son will never forget, as this act of kindness will leave a lasting memory for a boy that loves the Gators.”
Jacobs for his part is, still to this day, astonished that something so small could make such an impact. Yet, he says that moments like this are why everything is worth it.
“At first, it didn't seem big to me; it was just a quick thing. But, when Coach (Muschamp) read the note out loud that made me feel like it was really something. I didn't realize how much he took out of it; that such a small thing like that could change somebody's life.”
With only a couple of regular-season games left in the season, Jacobs is excited to see what the next chapter in his life will hold. He plans to pursue an NFL career, as it has been his dream since he was eight years old.
“I would like to play at the next level,” he admitted. “That's been my second dream after coming here. That would be the biggest blessing of my life, to just have the opportunity.”
A special player and a special man, Jacobs believes that determination and hard work will help him accomplish anything, even when the odds are not in his favor and the journey to get there is not through the smoothest course.
Since his own dream to become a football player began when he was a child, Jacobs has a few words of advice for all of those young men that like him are chasing the dream.
“Never quit. Just keep going, keep fighting, keep grinding for what you want and keep faith.”
We know there is at least one boy who will take this advice to heart: the boy with the towel.
