Kennedy's Jacobus decides to walk on at Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Kennedy football coach Brian White was waiting outside his third-period class Monday morning.

'Hey, I've got some news for you,' he told Dalles Jacobus.

Jacobus walked with his coach to a quiet area and was told University of Iowa assistant football coach Reese Morgan had just called. The Hawkeyes wanted him as a walk on.

Despite holding some Division II and NAIA scholarship offers and some D-I scholarship offers for track and field, Jacobus jumped.

'As soon as Coach White told me that, that was it,' Jacobus said. 'That's what I always wanted, that's where I always wanted to go.'

A first-team all-state defensive lineman, Jacobus will join Kennedy teammate Shaun Beyer at Iowa. Being a preferred walk-on means he will have a spot on the team for fall practice, though, obviously, no scholarship, like Beyer.

Iowa's track and field program offered him a scholarship as a thrower, but he has turned that down. He said there was no chance to do both sports, since track and field does a lot of work during the fall.

As far as a position, the 6-foot-2, 260-pounder said that is undetermined. He mentioned the possibility of being a defensive end or even a fullback.

'I'll play anywhere they want me to play,' he said.

A two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines, Jacobus helped Kennedy to the 2015 Class 4A state championship game for the first time. The Cougars were beaten by West Des Moines Dowling, 41-10.

He finished the season with 40 solo tackles, including 22 for loss. He was District 5's defensive player of the year.

In other Kennedy football news, senior running back Tyler Dralle said over the weekend he will play football and baseball at Coe College. Dralle rushed for 2,254 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.

He's a Kohawk legacy, as his father, Jeff, played both football and baseball at the school.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com