POCATELLO, Idaho-
Erik Jacobson first played tackle football at the age of nine with the Wood River Valley Optimist program. He was the first group to play with the inaugural league that started when he was nine years old.
“It became an annual thing to play in this league,” Jacobson said. “Every American boy should experience playing tackle football. My best friend to this day I met playing optimist football.”
The Bengal senior offensive lineman was actually a three-sport star as he also excelled in baseball and basketball all the way through high school
“I enjoyed playing all three sports,” Jacobson said. “Those were my best friends on the team. We went to weights in the morning then shot baskets and in the afternoon we took batting practice. It was a lot of fun.”
The focus on football came during his senior year in high school when he dislocated his should playing basketball and had to get surgery. He had already had a scholarship to play football at Idaho State and despite the injury; the Bengal coaching staff at the time still honored their commitment to Jacobson.
“I am grateful coach (John) Zamberlin for keeping their scholarship offer on the table,” Jacobson said. “My parents had watched every one of my high school games when I was in high school so I wanted to stay somewhere close to they could come.”
Jacobson is looking forward to his senior season and is excited about the direction the program is going. A highlight for his football career came last year in the 50-20 win over Northern Colorado.
“It showed the potential of what we can do and the potential for the future,” Jacobson said. “It is a surreal experience to sing the fight song with the whole town after a win.”
As Jacobson prepares for his final season he will graduate with a degree in English and he is working towards attending law school. An aspiration of his is to go into sports law.
“My strength academically is in critical reading, writing and public speaking,” Jacobson said.
Outside of football and academics, Jacobson's hobby is in music where when he was 18 he built what he called a, “fully functional electric guitar.”
“That is a passion of mine outside football,” he said. “I got my first guitar when I was 10 years old and it has been an extracurricular activity.”
Notes: Tickets for road games at Air Force and Montana are currently on sale at the Idaho State ticket office. For information call 208-282-FANS.
