Youngstown state db duo Tyjon Jones and Troy Jakubec commit to uab blazers

Photo by Ken Shepherd

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 3, 2024

Tyjon Jones and Troy Jakubec spent four football seasons as teammates at Youngstown State. Earlier this week, Jones and Jakubec signed to play their final college football season together at UAB.

“We definitely talked about it,” said Jakubec, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound cornerback. “He ended up getting in the portal about a week after me. We definitely talked about it being a possibility. We just decided to make it a reality.” 

Jones, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety, added he’s glad to have a “friendly face” at his new college football home.

Both will be expected to come in and compete for immediate playing time.

Jakubec immediately becomes the most experienced cornerback on UAB’s roster. Jakubec played in 43 games with 32 starts, since coming to Youngstown State in 2019. His career stats include 109 tackles, seven interceptions and 31 pass deflections. In 2023, Jakubec had 34 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He was a second team all-conference selection this past season.

He comes into a cornerback position that needs depth and talent after returning starters Mac McWilliams and Colby Dempsey entered the portal earlier this week. Jakubec said he didn’t know that McWilliams and Dempsey were leaving when he committed.

“When I saw that, it was news to me,” Jakubec said. “I thought I was coming in to make that room better and compete for the starting job right away.” 

Jakubec said about 50 schools contacted him since he entered the portal. Many of them offered scholarships but UAB was his lone visit. Most of the recruiting pitches, Jakubec said, were similar.

“I’d say, when it came to UAB, it kind of felt different, that’s why it stuck out in a sense,” said Jakubec, who played at tradition rich Warren Harding High in Ohio. “It was just a different recruiting pitch than everyone else. It felt more genuine.”

Jakubec is getting a seasoned veteran, who has improved steadily in his college career.

“I’m 10 times different, just from a physical aspect and just playing that many snaps,” Jakubec said of his college growth. “I feel like the game has slowed down for me, in a sense. I feel like I see a lot of different things that I wouldn’t see when I first got to Youngstown.”

Jones played in 35 games with 15 since arriving at Youngstown State in 2020. His career totals include 98 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass deflections. In 2023, he had a career high 42 tackles with two interceptions and five pass deflections.

He comes into a position that added some key pieces in the transfer portal before the spring semester began. Adrian Maddox (Alabama State) and Sirad Bryant (Georgia Tech) each had a productive spring practice.  Ike Rowell, who had 53 tackles in 11 games with eight starts at safety in 2023, entered the transfer portal after spring practice. 

Jones, who also visited West Virginia, brings an experienced and physical approach to the position.  

“I’m excited to come in and compete for a starting position and help the defense be as good as we can be,” said Jones, a Johnstown, Pennsylvania native, who is the third youngest of 12 siblings. “

I just want to show them my playmaking ability and that I’m able to make plays on the ball. I want to show them I can be physical and show them this was a great pickup for them, a diamond in the rough.”