Interview: 2018 Arkansas DE Logan Jessup Catching Top Regional Interest Ahead of Senior Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

The never-ending search by college coaches for high school gridiron talent that one day could be a major contributor to the roster is in full swing. College coaches are scouring the country for hidden gems to invite to their camps for further evaluation seeking out that future starter for their roster. One Class of 2018 recruit flying just below the radar but meeting all the needed qualifications for a closer look is Wynne High School defensive end Logan Jessup.

Jessup is that rare breed defender capable of influencing plays in just about every way possible from setting the edge, stuffing the run, and pressuring the quarterback to batting down balls and picking off passes from the line of scrimmage. A tackle does not have to be made by Jessup for his athleticism to influence the outcome of a play, but that has not stopped him from filling up the stat sheet.

During Jessup’s sophomore season, he produced 78 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, and picked off a pass. Making a jump from a true weak-side end to a hybrid weak-side and strong-side defender by adding roughly 40 pounds to his frame, Jessup showed no ill signs of the added weight racking up 62 stops, 32 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two interceptions, and an uncounted but impressive amount of balls swatted down before crossing the line of scrimmage in 10 games played.

Jessup’s success on the field has parlayed into wins for the Yellowjackets going 8-5 in 2015 and besting that mark with a 13-1 season in 2016 finishing ranked No. 6 in the state of Arkansas by MaxPreps against 5A competition. The additional games on the field have helped draw in college scouts with squads like Auburn, Missouri, Memphis, Air Force, Tulane, and Louisiana Tech showing interest as well as in-state powers like Arkansas and Arkansas State. Beyond the interest, the 6-3, 260 pound, talent has landed five offers. So far Army, Missouri State, Louisiana-Monroe, Harding, and Arkansas Tech have placed a next level opportunity in front of Jessup.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the top under the radar talents in the Natural State to get an overview on his high school career to date along with a rundown on his recruiting process.

Interview

Logan, have you always played defensive end or have you lined up at other spots since your freshman season?

“Defensively, throughout pee wee and junior high I was a d-lineman. My eighth-grade year I played outside linebacker. Me playing end was more of a team need. I am helping the team more at end so another guy can play outside linebacker. Last year I also played tight end and wide receiver.”

From game tape, it looked like you came into your own last season capable of influencing a play in several different ways. How did your game improve overall in 2016?

“A lot of it was getting stronger, faster, and smarter. I played at 225 pounds during my 10th grade year. Our coach came in over spring last year and said as a team we are gaining one pound a week. In about a month and a half I had gained 40 pounds off the meal plan. It was voluntary. I took it and ran with it. I was consuming about 4,500 calories a day. I got up to 260 pounds. That is where they wanted me.

“At our school, we have a three-man front. I don’t think college coaches realize I’m inside the tackle on most plays. I don’t get to rush the edge much. We read the guard on a pass or run play. I got better at my reads and footwork last year.”

Who was the toughest offensive lineman and/or running back you went up against last season?

“That is a hard one. I’m gonna say Peyton Tovey. He played guard for Batesville. I think he was nominated for All-State. He had a motor to him. He was not huge, but he played full speed. Another guy, was Larry Clark from Blytheville. He’s in my grade. We’ve gone after it since junior high. He was good too.”

How did that matchup help improve your game?

We have a strong side and a weak-side. I’m our weak-side end. I was only seeing them about half the time. But they bring out the best in you. Clark is a tackle. He is tough to get an edge on or to get a pass rush on him. Peyton was a physical fight on the inside.”

What are you working on this off-season?

“I’m working on getting stronger. We have a new head coach, so we are learning his system. If anything that has gotten stronger for me it is my arms. I’m working on getting stronger, having better agility, better balance, and better footwork.”

Where all might you play on the field during your senior year?

“I think something college coaches like to see is multiple positions played. I will more than likely play in about eight different spots. This year I will be at defensive end, tight end, and I might play some receiver. We’ll see what all I can do. I will mainly be at end, tight end, and receiver. I know I’m not playing receiver in college. I think I could play tight end in college if needed but I’m being recruited as a defensive end.”

Have you maxed out in the weight room yet this spring?

“I did my bench max today. I maxed out at 325. I have not maxed out on my other lifts this spring. My power clean last season was 315 before my junior year. My max on squat was 430.”

Are there any college camps you might attend this summer?

“I have been invited to quite a few college camps. Auburn, Arkansas, Arizona State, A State (Arkansas State), Missouri, and Memphis have invited me to their camps. I’m not sure which camps I will attend yet.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you?

“Auburn, Arkansas, ASU, Arkansas State, Missouri, Memphis, Air Force, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, UCA (Central Arkansas), and a couple of Texas schools have followed me on Twitter.”

Which schools have offered you?

“Army, Missouri State, and Louisiana-Monroe are my D-I offers. I have a couple of D-II offers from Harding and Arkansas Tech. They offered last spring.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits yet?

“ULM (Louisiana-Monroe) offered during a visit. That is when I said to myself ‘hey maybe I can play D-I football.’ After that I got a couple more offers. I have taken visits to Arkansas State and Memphis. I had one scheduled to go to Arkansas this past weekend but their spring game was rained out due to severe weather. Coach (Barry) Lunney (tight ends coach) told me not to come.”

Do you have any unofficial visits scheduled coming up or for this summer?

“No. No visits planned yet.”

Which schools have come by Wynne to see you in person this spring so far?

“Arkansas, they came by today (Thursday), Missouri, they came by yesterday, Air Force, ULM, Southeast Missouri State, and Harding all pretty much came by in the last week or so.”

How did your visit with Arkansas go today?

“It went really well. Coach Lunney came by to talk to me. I met him over a year ago when he came by our school. He told me then ‘you are on our radar. We are going to recruit you.’ I saw them at a camp with a bunch of other Arkansas schools last summer. He was following up with me. It was a good visit. They sound interested. We’ll see how it goes.”

How did your visit with Mizzou go?

“Coach Brian Odom (linebackers coach) came by to see me. I was not expecting that at all. I did not have prior contact with Missouri before that. I went down there and met him. He told me a little bit about the university. He invited me to their camp so I can show them what I’ve got and we’ll go from there. He thinks I could be a big-time player for them.”

What are college coaches telling you they like about your game on the field?

“They have not talked about how I disrupt pass plays at the line but they are telling me about my pass rush and my tackles for a loss. The fact that I am 6-3, 255-260, but I probably look 230, most of them are saying they could bring me in as a defensive end but if needed they could bring me up to 300 to play tackle. They are calling me a tweener.”

Let’s switch over to the classroom. What is your cumulative GPA?

“3.06.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I have a super score of 19 on the ACT.”

Is there a player at the college or NFL level you enjoy watching to learn more about the game?

“There is not a specific player. I like watching d-linemen as a whole. I like watching what they are doing. I want to coach when my playing days are through. I love the competitiveness of it. JJ Watt is probably the one, if I had to pick one. He is obviously a great player.”

What do you do for fun away from working out and football related activities?

“I love my friends. I have a great group of friends. The friends that I hang out with, we don’t have to worry about getting in trouble. I love to hunt and I love to fish. I love playing pickup basketball or going out and hitting baseballs with my friends. I love being with people.”

Logan, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your spring workouts.

“Thank you.”

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Action photo credits: Mason Addison/The Wynne Progress; No. 9 Logan Jessup.

Photo credit: Jessup family; Logan Jessup at Memphis.