Snohomish County’s top-rated high school football recruit in the class of 2022 has made his college decision — and he won’t be straying far from home.
Jakobus Seth, a three-star recruit ranked 28th overall in the state by 247sports.com, announced his verbal commitment to Washington State University in an Instagram post June 28.
The soon-to-be Lakewood senior is one of seven players from the class of 2022 who have given their verbal pledge to the Cougars. Washington State plans to use him at left tackle.
“They’re definitely one of the top schools that invested the most time and just effort into recruiting me,” Seth told The Herald. “It just showed how much they wanted me in their program.”
He also held offers from NCAA Division-I schools Oregon State, Nevada, Eastern Washington, Dartmouth and Yale.
Seth is a massive 6-foot-3, 281-pound lineman that posses the measurables Division-I programs covet in recruits.
His impressive strength is evident when he bulldozes through opposing linemen on the defensive side of the field and with the eye-popping numbers he produces in the weight room. Seth can squat 485 pounds, bench press 335 and power clean 315.
Lakewood coach Dan Teeter said Seth is the first player he’s coached who tops 1,100 pounds in the three lifts combined.
“That comes from natural gifting along with a great work ethic,” Teeter said.
He pairs that strength with athleticism that is elite for a high school athlete of his size.
Teeter said Seth can often be seen sprinting 50 yards down the field to make a block at the end of a play after he opens up a running lane with a block at the line of scrimmage.
His mobility gave Lakewood the opportunity to use him as a tight end during the shortened prep season in the spring. Seth’s main role was to block, but he also got the chance to take a couple handoffs and haul in a touchdown reception.
“I have not always been naturally athletic,” Seth said. “Since I got into freshman year weightlifting with the team, I started to try and set myself apart from everybody. The speed wasn’t always there. I was pretty slow until sophomore year.”
“I’ve had to work for everything, especially the speed,” he added. “That was probably the hardest one. I just try to give it my all for every rep and give 100% for everything.”
Seth became a starter on the Lakewood varsity team during his freshman year after he came in at left tackle to replace an injured starter in the season’s first game. He’s been a mainstay for the Cougars ever since.
As a sophomore, Seth was named to The Herald’s All-Area team as a defensive lineman after posting 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while helping Lakewood to a Class 2A state quarterfinal appearance. He also earned first-team All-Northwest 2A Sky Division honors at the same position.
The reality of playing high-level college football started to set in after that season.
“I wasn’t thinking too much about it, wasn’t looking too much into it,” Seth said, “and then some people thought I had some good talent and that, if I kept growing at the rate I was, they thought I could go somewhere. So I just kept working hard.”
That hard work paid off.
He impressed again as a junior during the five-game 2021 season. Seth recorded one sack, eight quarterback hurries, 3.5 tackles for loss and recovered a fumble for a touchdown while anchoring the line for a defense that allowed just 8.4 points per game. He earned another selection to The Herald’s All-Area team as a defensive lineman and was a first-team All-Wesco 2A pick on offense and defense.
The Washington State-bound standout also excels in the classroom where he carries a grade-point average above 3.5.
“He is so well-rounded, Teeter said. “It’s really easy for people just to see his physical size and ability out on the football field, but he’s a tremendous student, a great young man. He’s not a kid I ever worry about what he’s doing over the weekend or those kind of things.
“It just really pleases you when you see a kid who’s worked really hard and is a great kid get an opportunity like this. Super proud of him.”
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