Junior LaJesse has been collecting D1 college offers like trading cards: University of Georgia, University of Cincinnati, University of Colorado, University of Florida, Louisianna State University and Pennsylvania State University to name a few.
LaJesse Harold (’25) plays defensive end and holds a four-star rating, making him amongst the top players at the high school level for his position. His high skill level made him the perfect candidate for eager college scouts on the search for additions to their roster. He received 27 D1 offers at colleges across the country, many of the schools being a member of the South Easter Conference (SEC) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
“College coaches are always looking for the next wave of talented student-athletes. They will call/visit campuses across the country, collect the data, then decide which kids best fit their school,” Robinson Head Coach Mike Williams said. “They will then extend different versions of an athletic scholarship that covers everything from room, board, food, etc.”
Harold is new to the Robinson scene, having transferred from Wharton. The last season he played for Wharton where he held a winning record of 8-3. The move to a totally new school before the start of his junior year may not have been easy, but it allowed him to improve under Williams’ coaching.
“Moving here and playing here at Robinson helped me become more of a leader on the field and be closer with the guys on the team,” Harold said.
His respectable 27 offers do not just come from his athletic skills, but his above-average GPA as a football player. Academically prestigious schools such as the University of Florida and the University of Georgia have offered him places on their team and in their schools, an opportunity many students strive for every day.
“Jesse has the size and athletic ability, which is the first thing that gets colleges’ attention. He also has a high GPA that shows he can handle college classwork,” Williams said.
Considering all of his options, his peers from high school may one day be watching him play as they cheer from student sections at the major universities in the state, or even from home as he joins the ranks of some of the most popular college football programs in the country. Having played football for the majority of his life, Harold feels that his hard work and dedication to the sport have finally come to fruition.
“Yes I have gotten offers from schools I’d love to go to,” Harold said. “I’ve really just dreamed about playing at Division 1 level since I was little, so even getting these offers is just great.”
