BYU football: Jacobson's just eager to get back in the game

PROVO — Conspicuously absent from BYU's spring drills are two talented wide receivers — Austin Collie and McKay Jacobson.

Collie decided to skip his senior year and turn pro after becoming the school's all-time leading receiver last fall. Jacobson, who turned in a solid season as a freshman in 2006, returned home from his mission to Japan a few months ago. But not long before the start of spring practices, he suffered a hamstring injury that has sidelined him.

"It's fun to be back (at BYU). It's hard to have an injury and not be able to play after working hard during the off-season," Jacobson said. "I'm just trying to take care of it now and trying to get ready. My goal is to be ready for our first game. That's what I'm working for."

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound sophomore is expected to start participating in non-contact drills Monday, running routes and catching passes. Then he will be re-evaluated.

"If I have a say in it, I'll be a lot more conservative than aggressive," coach Bronco Mendenhall said about Jacobson's status. "I don't want a setback with him. He's anxious to come out so we'll evaluate him on Monday."

Jacobson, who has been working with senior quarterback Max Hall during the winter, said he would be disappointed if he weren't able to see action this spring.

"It would be something I wouldn't want to happen," he said. "I graduated early from high school and went on my mission when I did so I could be back here and have the time to prepare. During spring ball, we're not going to win any games. But it's a time to get better, a time to work. I am missing out, but it's part of the game. You get injured every once in a while."

Clocked with 4.3 speed prior to his mission, Jacobson said he hasn't been timed yet in the 40 since coming home. But is he as fast as he was before his mission?

"I'm not exactly where I need to be, I'm not where I was," he said. "I'm at about 80-85 percent. By the fall, I'll be ready to go."

After finishing his outstanding prep career at Southlake Carroll High in Southlake, Texas — he had 201 receptions for 3,019 yards and 30 touchdowns and earned 5A Texas wide receiver of the year honors as a senior — Jacobson graduated early and enrolled early at BYU in the winter of 2006.

As a freshman, Jacobson caught 28 passes for 547 yards and three touchdowns from then-starting quarterback John Beck. Jacobson's 77-yard punt return for a touchdown against Wyoming was the Cougars' first punt return for a TD in nine years.