Cabell Midland’s Caudill passes on college football to join Marines
ONA, W.Va. (BVM) — Cabell Midland running back Jakob Caudill has been one of the best players in the entire state of West Virginia over the past two seasons. During his junior campaign, Caudill rushed for 1,938 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Knights, helping lead them to a Class AAA state championship appearance where he would earn the game’s Co-MVP honors after rushing for 164 yards. This season, Caudill would again prove to be one of the top backs in the state, rushing for 746 yards and 10 touchdowns in all five games the Knights played during the COVID-19-shortened campaign.
“He’s a perfect fit [for fullback],” Cabell Midland head coach Luke Salmons said. “He’s kind of a throwback player. Very tough, but he can make plays and score. He was a really good football player and really good high school player and he just developed over four years and bought into what we were preaching. He did a great job with that and had a lot of success.”
Both seasons would earn the running back a spot on the Class AAA all-state first team, further solidifying his spot in the state’s lore.
“It felt good to know I left my legacy and people know who I am and what I did on that field,” Caudill said. “The next guy behind me now has to prove himself.”
With all of his success on the gridiron, Caudill earned a substantial amount of interest from collegiate programs. In total, Caudill would earn scholarships to West Virginia Wesleyan and Pikeville University as well as interest from Air Force, Penn State and West Virginia.
“It was a surreal experience especially going to Penn State that’s a dream school for me,” Caudill said. “Just to be able to walk out of that tunnel and onto that field was unreal.”
Thank you @PennStateFball for having me up for Junior Day, appreciate the hospitality! @coachseider @coachjfranklin pic.twitter.com/v3zUQeTMvs
— Jakob Caudill (@JDC_beast) February 3, 2020
Though he had the opportunity to play at the next level, Caudill would go his own way.
On Nov. 22, Caudill announced on his Twitter page that he would not commit to a college football program, instead making the decision to join the Marines. With his father being a 21-year veteran of the Marines and his brother currently an active member of the military branch, the decision was a clear one for Caudill.
“Just seeing how successful [my dad and brother] are in life made me want to do it,” Caudill said.
— Jakob Caudill (@JDC_beast) November 22, 2020
Salmons, though a bit surprised by the decision, was not caught off guard by who made it. Calling Caudill a great leader and one of the toughest football players in the program, the coach understood the decision for his former fullback.
“He worked really hard for the opportunity to play college, but at the same time his personality and how he is he’s a team guy who has a great family who instilled a lot of that in him so he’s kind of military driven,” Salmons said. “Of course it’s always a surprise, but at the same time if you know him it doesn’t surprise you because he’s that type of kid who wants to put others in front of him.”
Though his football career will soon be in his rearview mirror, Caudill is thankful for what the sport has given him throughout his life. On top of his state championship appearance and visits to top colleges, football also offered Caudill the opportunity to participate in a number of camps and games throughout the country including playing in the Blue-Grey All-American Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game, which served as the swan song for Caudill’s football career, was a memorable experience for the running back as he was able to experience what playing football in an NFL stadium was like.
“It was unreal just to be able to be on that field and just to even be there with the top athletes from around here,” Caudill said.
Now, Caudill will look to his dad and his brother for advice and inspiration when he joins the Marines following his graduation in May. Being able to learn from those two through their journeys in the armed forces will be of immense help to Caudill who will further the family tradition of service to the country.
“It’s prepared me a lot, especially all their stories,” Caudill said. “It makes me happy to be able to keep that in the family and be able to maybe pass it on to my kids. Unless they have football because I want better for my kids.”
Although Cabell Midland Knights fans and fans of a number of different college programs will miss out on the opportunity to watch Caudill make the next step on the football field, no one can be upset about the running back’s decision.
“For him to do that, from our perspective, it’s a sacrifice,” Salmons said. “You’ve got to be happy for him because that’s what he wants to do and we support him and we’ll be here for him if he needs us.”
Putting his football future aside to instead protect and honor the country he calls home, Caudill is making a large sacrifice, but one he would proudly do again.
“My dad has always taught me to stand for the flag, respect the flag and all the people who died for it,” Caudill said. “Just knowing I’m serving my country is an accomplishment for me.”
