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Meyer to continue grid career at Millikin
Greencastle’s Jacob Meyer took a little while longer than some of his teammates to find his home for college football.
But once he decided upon Millikin University, he was happy with the decision.
“I got some things in the mail from them last fall, but I really hadn’t heard of the school,” said Meyer of Millikin, a Division III school located in Decatur, Ill. “I wanted to play football, and I got back with anybody who contacted me. I talked to them a little bit throughout the year, but I talked to them a lot since January.”
Meyer went to visit the school on spring break.
“I really loved the school and the people there,” he said. “I really like the coaches, and the field is awesome. They have live replay and all that, which his pretty good for DIII.”
Millikin went 7-3 overall last fall and 5-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Millikin had its best season in 14 years. The seven wins were the most by a Big Blue football team since 2003, while the five CCIW wins were the most conference wins since 2001.
Meyer will be a defensive end for the Big Blue, hoping to continue the success he had at that position for the Tiger Cubs last fall.
”I fit in perfectly with their scheme, since they go for speed over size,” said the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Meyer. “This has been a goal of mine forever. I was picking between a lot of colleges, including Marian and Franklin, and I couldn’t get over how much I liked Millikin.”
Meyer was fifth in the state with 15 quarterback sacks, resulting in 107 yards lost. He was credited with 92 total tackles (57 solo), and caused six fumbles.
Meyer also made two fumble recoveries, and had a memorable game against Cloverdale in which he recorded two safeties as the Cubs went 7-5 and finished as sectional runnerup.
Meyer will major in business with an emphasis on marketing.
Greencastle coach Mike Meyer will miss his son and defensive standout for many reasons, and is glad he’s able to continue his football career.
“I’m very proud of my son for what he has done and what he has achieved,” coach Meyer said. “We all know it’s not very easy being the coach’s kid, but he’s worked very hard on the field and in the weight room. He has done a great job of learning under coach [Nate] Bryan, and he has really matured physically.
“I’m looking forward to getting to sit in the stands and watch him play.”
For a young man from a family filled with coaches of all sports to make his way to the collegiate level is not a big surprise, and coach Meyer felt the possibility has existed for a long time.
“He wanted to be involved in athletics, and obviously in our family football has been a big part of it,” he said. “He’s been on the sidelines since he was born. Literally.”
Mike Meyer played college football at Hanover, and he knows the excitement that goes along with the experience.
“We’re excited about the future,” he said. “As parents, we’re looking forward to cheering him on. Millikin is a very good choice for him, and we like everyone we talked to there.
“They line up defensively much like we do,” Meyer continued. “There won’t be much of a transition for him.”