Marble Falls receiver Jacob Metcalf signs with McMurry
Marble Falls High School senior receiver Jacob Metcalf (seated) signs his letter of intent to play football and run track for McMurry University on April 8 as parents Juley and Todd Metcalf look on. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • STAFF WRITER
MARBLE FALLS — Marble Falls High School head football coach Matt Green recalled meeting “a scrawny little dude” two years ago when he took over the Mustangs team.
On April 8, that player — senior receiver Jacob Metcalf — signed his letter of intent to play football and run track for McMurry University in Abilene.
So how did the “scrawny little dude” turn himself into a college prospect? Green said Metcalf committed himself to weight room sessions, getting faster and running tremendous routes.
“He has great things ahead of him,” Green said. “The big accomplishment in our eyes as coaches is that he’s a great, great kid.”
Green said many look at Metcalf and make the mistake of believing he is unable to do much because he’s 5 feet 9 inches. But then, the next time they look, Metcalf is lined up at slot receiver and making plays.
At Marble Falls, Metcalf also played defensive back and returned punts. He is currently a member of the Marble Falls track team as a jumper and a sprinter.
“I’m sure he’s maxed out on five events,” Green said. “His character supersedes all that.”
The athletic director said what the program will miss most is Metcalf’s leadership.
Metcalf said he chose McMurry because “it felt like home to me, and I love the coaches,” he said.
Metcalf, who spent his first two years on Faith Academy’s football team that had a 21-2 mark, was a two-year varsity starter for the Mustangs, finishing with 1,728 yards and six touchdowns that propelled him to first team All-District 25-5A honors.
He noted the ability to have that much yardage comes back to playing with solid quarterbacks and having a great rapport.
“It’s a special bond,” he said. “We’re always working.”
The son of Juley and Todd Metcalf will major in electrical engineering and physics. He smiled when asked how he was going to balance being an athlete with such challenging majors.
“Coaches said they’ll help me as much as they can,” he said.
While the Mustangs did not reach the playoffs during his time at Marble Falls, Metcalf said the past two years taught him plenty that he will apply in life.
“It’s made me more of a man and taught me a lot of life lessons,” he said. “I try to do the best I can in every game.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com