Ja’Kobi Lane brings more than receiving ability to USC
MESA, Ariz. (BVM) — Over the last couple of years, Ja’Kobi Lane has become one of Arizona’s best pass catchers at the prep level. Known for his spectacular catches at Red Mountain High School, Lane has always been addicted to football, even as a baby.
onto the next week! pic.twitter.com/OZcKTugLKK
— Ja'Kobi Lane (@cantGuardJak1) October 31, 2022
“My mom would always be watching football and have it on the TV,” Lane said. “When I was a baby, I’d be so zoned in on everything.”
Now years later, Lane is still zoned in.
According to 247 Sports, Lane is the No. 31 receiver in the entire country, and in August, he announced his commitment to USC.
Lincoln Riley has quickly turned things around in Los Angeles after a 4-8 season in 2021, and the opportunity to help continue the turnaround was very enticing to Lane.
“It’s a group of guys that are really hungry and we all have the same mindset and aspirations,” Lane said of the 2023 USC recruiting class. “Everybody has the same motive.”
Lane’s future looks very bright now, but he did not receive his first college offer until February of his junior year.
For some recruits, that could be something that could derail them mentally. But Lane was steadfast about his football career, always knowing it would come if he just stuck to the work.
“I tried to compare myself to other’s people recruiting,” Lane said. “I was trying to ask myself why I wasn’t getting as many offers right away. But everybody goes through different things and different paths. I’m grateful I just stuck through it and didn’t get down on myself.”
Even with Lane achieving all that he has in the last couple of years, he is not letting any of his success get in his way of being who he is outside of football.
“At the end of the day, I’m the same person,” Lane said. “You only get this opportunity once, so don’t take it for granted. I want to solidify myself as a person over everything else. Being a great, humble young man ready for the blessing of life is more of a responsibility than anything else.”
With this opportunity, Lane is not only excited about continuing his football career, but his academic career as well at USC.
“I know plenty of four and five–star recruits, that if it weren’t for football, would sadly have no way to pay for college,” Lane said. “Being able to get your whole schooling paid for is one of the biggest things for me at least.”
On the football field, Lane’s main goal going forward is simple: to not drop the football. Off the field, it will be making sure he can maximize every opportunity in his future.
“If I keep God in my heart and really focus, nothing can go wrong,” Lane said. “I want to talk to as many people as I can as far as learning things and allowing myself to get new information. I want to be open to doing things and being open to fail and learning from it. I want to attack everything head-on with a good head on my shoulders.”
Lane is big on relationship building, and he has developed some good ones over the years at Red Mountain with all of his teammates, including his long-time quarterback, Carter Crispin.
“Without him (Crispin), I wouldn’t be in this place in my life,” Lane said. “My relationship with not only him, but everyone on the team is something that I’ll cherish forever.”
In the near future, Lane will have the opportunity to build even more relationships with his new teammates at USC, and eventually, he is hoping to get the chance at doing it at the NFL level.
