WVU Football

Expect More Big Plays from WVU CB Jacolby Spells

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2022

He’s responsible for the pick-six that cemented retaining the Black Diamond Trophy for West Virginia. His name is Jacolby Spells, but how much more do you really know about him?

Even though the game was well in hand and his interception just put the final nail in the Hokies’ coffin, it was an important interception for the freshman to make. Spells’ pick that he ran all the way for a score was the first interception for the WVU defense and a secondary that’s been without its best player in Charles Woods since early in the Backyard Brawl. If somebody asked you to predict who would come up with the first interception for WVU this season, would you have named Spells as that guy? Doubtful, right?

Watch: WVU CB Jacolby Spells Converts Pick-6 to Lock up Win Over Virginia Tech

Well, here’s some more background information about the 5’11 and 180 pound cornerback who even more Mountaineer fans are aware of after Thursday night and why any big play he makes shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore.

For starters, Spells played receiver for coach Patrick Surtain at American Heritage High before switching to cornerback his junior year. It was that season that Spells posted 32 tackles and was apart of a team that went 11-2 en route to a 5A Florida state championship. He then totaled 21 tackles as a senior and also even contributed on special teams, accounting for 103 kick return yards.

As is common for high school athletes, Spells also participated in track and ran a 10.79 in the 100 meters. Spells earned a four-star rating from both 247Sports and ESPN. He was ranked the 24th best cornerback nationally and number 20 overall in the state of Florida. ESPN thought even more of Spells before he decided on playing college ball in Morgantown. They had at number 14 among cornerbacks and 16 overall in Florida. Out of a list of the top 300 prospects, Spells was placed at 137.

Now next time Spells makes a big play to change the course of a game or seal a big win, and there no doubt will be a next time, he will already be name Mountaineer Nation expects to make an impact.