Like father, like son. Well, not in every way for 2014 Princeton wide receiver Jakari Dillard.
Jakari Dillard: Texas Tech Standing Out For OU Legacy
A rising 2014 wide receiver says a Texas Tech offer is standing out for him.
His father, Stacey, played football at Oklahoma and was then drafted by the New York Giants in 1992, spending four years in the league. The thing about Stacey Dillard? He played at 6’5 and 290 pounds and appeared to be a bit above that playing weight while out in College Station for the Fox Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Championship late last week.
His son Jakari has a little different build, more like his mother, who doesn’t stand much over five feet (if at all) and is quite petite. The Princeton wide receiver has his father’s height, though, at 6’4, and the shoulder width to eventually play at around 200 solid pounds in college (he’s currently 185 pounds).
I jokingly asked him if he was going to grow into a defensive tackle. Apparently thinking I was serious, a stricken look passed over the young man’s face. Don’t worry, Jakari -- you won’t be growing into a defensive tackle like your father.
Predictably a lifelong Oklahoma fan, the younger Dillard doesn’t yet have an offer from the Sooners, even after attending a satellite camp this summer. The major question for such legacies is usually whether or not they will commit on the spot if offered by their childhood favorite. Dillard said he would not, and would continue to take an open mind throughout the process.
Three schools have offered early -- Mississippi State, Texas Tech and Syracuse. Of those three, Dillard indicated that the Red Raiders are the school standing out early.
He’s had a chance to visit the campus for a summer camp and likes the uptempo offense employed in Lubbock, as well as the coaching staff and the facilities.
Other than the Oklahoma camp, the big receiver with excellent ball skills also made it down to Austin for a Texas camp this summer and received some positive feedback from the staff about his ability to get off the line of scrimmage, but was not approved for an offer, with the staff telling him that they would continue evaluating him throughout the season.
If Texas was to offer and Jakari to commit? Well, his father said he would support his son’s decision and even don some burnt orange for his time at Texas, but would be sure to let his son know his real feelings upon graduation.
But the Longhorns may not be in serious contention, even if they were to offer. The elder Dillard, who is the head coach and athletic director at Princeton, said that his son prefers the small-time feel of places like Starkville, Lubbock and Norman.
And despite Dillard saying that he would not commit on the spot to Oklahoma if offered, it certainly seems as it the Sooners would be in outstanding shape if they were to extend that offer.
The tall wideout has plans to attend games at Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and possibly Oregon during the season.
One of the standouts in the entire tournament at wide receiver, here’s how Dillard performed in College Station:
The day of viewing began with one of the top individual performers these eyes saw, as the 6’4, 185-pounder didn’t waste any time making an impact, streaking down the field on a post route and hauling in the pass for a touchdown on the first offensive play of the game for Princeton. He followed it up with another touchdown catch on the following possession, leaping over two defenders to snag the football at its highest point -- an indefensible play at this level, or any other, frankly.
Dillard didn’t stop producing either, using his big frame to later secure another catch in the endzone. He consistently caught the football away from his body when it was within his frame, showing strong and natural pass-catching ability, and then used his aerial skills to consistently beat defensive backs even when he couldn’t create separation.
Strong both in his first several steps and with his top-end speed (which he said translates to a 4.5 40 time), Dillard sold his double moves well and was particularly effective with a stop and go route that he would hold for just long enough out of his break to get defenders biting. Currently sitting at three offers, that number will increase quickly and significantly this fall.
For more on OU football, visit Oklahoma blog Crimson And Cream Machine.
For more on Horns football, visit Texas blogs Burnt Orange Nation and Barking Carnival, plus SB Nation Dallas.
For more on Red Raiders football, visit Texas Tech blog Double-T Nation.
