WATCH: Jacob Sykes on Transferring to UCLA, Fit in New Defense
UCLA football defensive lineman Jacob Sykes spoke to reporters following Friday morning’s fall camp session. Sykes talked about his journey from Harvard to Westwood, where he sees himself fitting in up front, how he is adjusting to a new staff with new terminology and how he expects the UCLA-USC rivalry to compare to the Harvard-Yale rivalry.
How's camp going?
It's been going great, can't complain. Everything is going smoothly, we're getting after it and just trying to work hard.
How hard is it academically to come to UCLA from Harvard?
I mean, both are great institutions, so I'm just embracing the kinda coast switch. I was on the East Coast, now I'm on the West Coast, both great academic schools, both great football schools, so I'm trying to get after it in every way possible.
Ivy League to Pac-12 transition?
It's going good. The speed is a little bit different here, it's a lot more up-tempo, fast-paced, the guys are a little bit bigger, a little stronger. But it's going well so far, just gotta keep attacking every day.
Your Harvard coach told coach Kelly he saw you as an NFL guy? Goal to play on Sundays?
Absolutely. I mean, I attack every day thinking I'm the best player in the world, I just have to prove it every day. I wanna establish myself as a dominant player, and even if I don't play well one day, Imma attack the next day with same mindset that I'm a dominant player and that I'll be the best.
Recruitment out of high school?
I had a decent amount of offers. My first offer was Northwestern, and then kinda the Ivies came and some more FCS teams and some other FBS teams. I kinda settled on Harvard just because one, the name Harvard kinda opens doors. God forbid I get hurt or anything like that happens, I have a great degree to kinda help support my family and all those type of things. And also it's still a great caliber of football. Ivy League football is a really good level, we have guys go to the pros just like other schools, so it was a good balance for me.
Big leap you made in college?
I think, really, the opportunity arose because of COVID. So for all that COVID did, it did grant me an opportunity to have an extra season of eligibility. And I just kinda kept attacking every year, had a great senior year summer, junior year summer, getting in the weight room, getting stronger, faster, and just to kinda be more dominant on the field. That kinda opened doors for me to get FBS recruiting and once that happened, the coaches were kinda pushing me and excited for me as well.
Process of transferring to UCLA?
Absolutely. So I went in the portal and coach Scot Ruggles reached out. Believe it or not, there's kinda more connections between UCLA and Harvard than at least I knew. Coach Kelly and coach Murphy actually knew each other as well, so between kinda the mutual contacts, we became – we started talking and then had a visit or two and then the rest is history.
What are you studying here?
I'm studying the teaching learning – sorry, the teaching Master's, so transformative coaching Master's.
Lot of turnover on the DL, competing for open starting spots right as you come in?
Absolutely. Just personally, if there was no spots open, one spot open, two spots open, I would still be attacking the day in the same way. I'm just trying to, again, get out here and prove that I'm the most dominant player. Regardless of the outcome, I just wanna give my maximum effort every day and kinda let the rest work itself out.
Primarily working at 3-tech?
Yes, 3-tech.
More or less what you were doing at Harvard?
Yes. so at Harvard, I was playing 3-tech, 2-wide, we kinda just bumped down. But I've played majority 3-tech, so 3-tech is kinda comfortable for me and I'm excited for it.
Defensive line has potential to be disruptive getting into the backfield?
I think our potential is through the roof. I mean, we have a great caliber offensive line with some good interior guys and good tackles, but I think the D-line has kinda proven that we're still fighting, we're still resilient and that we can get some good disruption in the pass game and still be kinda rugged in the running game. So I'm excited for our guys, I've also excited for the O-line. It's just a good battle up front.
Relationship with Gary Smith III, transferring in at the same time?
So I actually had my same official visit at the same time as Gary, so I kinda met him there. We connected great and he's looking really good. He's a strong guy, holding up double teams, getting off the ball, still getting in the pass rush, so his potential's also through the roof.
Different going against this offensive line after going against Ivy League?
I would say yes and no. I mean, the guys here, I think on average, are a lot bigger, a lot stronger, a little more physical, but I have gone up against some guys that are the same caliber or better. Like Nick Easton, he plays in the league now, he's a great offensive lineman. Guys like Eric Wilson, he's from Harvard, Liam, all these guys. But it is a good feeling when all the offensive line is just kinda solid across the board, all firing, coming at you. Just a complete group.
Working with defensive line coach?
It's been great. Obviously, having four years in different programs, we have some different terminology, we're just both kinda getting on board with that and kinda synchronizing our terminology, what he wants from me, what I do good, and we're just kinda working from there to get the best possible outcome.
Excited to have nice weather every game now?
Oh, absolutely. I haven't seen snow yet, so it's looking good so far.
Expectations for UCLA-USC vs. Harvard-Yale?
My expectations for UCLA, period, is just to win every game. Obviously Harvard-Yale is fun, I expect UCLA-USC to be equally fun or even more fun, so I’m just attacking every game like a rivalry game, honestly. I want to beat everybody really bad, I want to go after it and I’m excited to compete.
Team getting overlooked with so many new faces?
Yeah, I think whether we’re overlooked or underestimated, I think it’s up to us to prove it. I think we have to just go out our first game, prove it that game, second game, prove it that game, third game, fourth game and just keep proving it. Regardless of what people think, we have to just go out and work and not really pay attention too much to what is going on outside, just keep working hard, keep head down and keep grinding.
Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @SI_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @SI.AllBruins
Subscribe to All Bruins on YouTube
Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA football stories: UCLA Football on Sports Illustrated
