QA with John Jakel
In the 12th of what is expected to be a 25-part series of Q&As with the 2003 Gopher Football recruits, GopherHole.com's Zach Johnson recently spoke with Schofield, Wisconsin offensive lineman John Jakel. John talks about playing his home-state Badgers and about a former NFLer who helped him develop his game, among other things:
GopherHole.com: What was the best part of the recruiting process?
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Jakel: Going to the dorms, meeting the players and coaches, and touring the facilities.
GopherHole.com: What was the worst part of the recruiting process?
Jakel: I guess I didn't have a bad part, although the day at Minnesota got long because everything was packed in.
GopherHole.com: What was the #1 reason you chose to attend Minnesota?
Jakel: The opportunity to play Big Ten football.
GopherHole.com: Who is Floyd of Rosedale?
Jakel: Don't know. I don't know.
GopherHole.com: Was playing in the Metrodome a positive or negative factor when considering to attend Minnesota?
Jakel: Playing in the Metrodome didn't factor into my decision that much.
GopherHole.com: What player do you model your game after?
Jakel: I really don't know. I guess you could say former D.C. Everest grad Chris Oswald. He was a long-snapper in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, and he helped me a lot with learning proper technique.
GopherHole.com: What is the one Big Ten team you never want to lose to?
Jakel: That's easy, Wisconsin. They are the only D1 team in Wisconsin, and they compete with Minnesota. The Minnesota and Wisconsin game should be a lot of fun.
GopherHole.com: Who is the greatest football player in Minnesota history?
Jakel: I think it would be Bronko Nagurski.
GopherHole.com: What are your individual and team goals you want to accomplish at Minnesota?
Jakel: I would like to compete for a starting job during my junior and senior seasons, and I would like to win the Big Ten.
GopherHole.com: What do you have to work on in order to reach these goals?
Jakel: I need to learn all the schemes and techniques. I need to get into the weight room and put in some work and also spend time conditioning.
Previous GopherHole.com Q&As:
Talk about John Jakel on the Gopher Football message board and/or the Premium message board.