'I’m stronger than I was before surgery': HC linebacker Jacob Dobbs looks ahead while continuing his recovery
WORCESTER — Holy Cross linebacker Jacob Dobbs cleaned 335 pounds four times last week, so, yes, his return from elbow surgery is going strong.
Last season, Dobbs, a two-time All-American and the heart and soul of HC’s defense, tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, as well as his triceps tendon and a forearm flexor muscle, and missed nine games. He spent most of HC’s historic 2022 season on the sideline.
“It was really hard,” Dobbs, a four-year captain, said, “but I think it just speaks to the kind of team we have. Guys get hurt, but just the ability of the team to keep going and do amazing things.”
Following surgery, Dobbs was in a cast for two weeks. Once it was off, he was back in the weight room, working legs and following associate strength and conditioning coach Chris Grautski’s plan for him. Five weeks after surgery, Dobbs was rehabbing with Alicia Caswell (the “G.O.A.T,” Dobbs said), HC’s assistant director of athletics/sports medicine.
By the time spring ball started a few weeks ago, Dobbs was fully cleared to return to action, though the HC staff limited his participation in practice, and he cheered on his teammates from the sideline at Saturday’s annual spring game at Fitton Field.
“He looks great,” Holy Cross coach Bob Chesney said, “and he can go right now, we’re just not allowing him. It’s killing him, but he’s doing a heck of a job leading these guys.”
Dobbs continues to wear an arm brace for football-related activities as a precaution.
“I’m stronger than I was before surgery,” Dobbs said, “so all those numbers Coach Grautski helped me with got me in a great spot. (The coaching staff) is controlling me just so I don’t take any unnecessary hits, but if we were playing a football game right now, I would be 100% good to go.”
In 2021, Dobbs was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, and ranked in the top 10 nationally in solo tackles and total tackles. He recorded 9½ sacks, 6 quarterback hurries and 3 pass breakups.
In four games last season, Dobbs tallied 38 tackles, including 14 in the win over Yale.
Dobbs sustained his injury Week 4 at Colgate.
“We missed a big playmaker on our defense,” senior cornerback Devin Haskins said. “We missed the leader, not just a captain. He’s been our leader since he got here, a big-time play maker and our commander. Seeing him in pads (during spring practice) and being in good shape and good spirits is awesome for us.
“What’s so impressive about Dobbs,” Haskins said, “is he was limited in practice, but he was still out here getting every mental rep, coaching up the younger guys and trying to progress this whole thing along.”
Dobbs had his surgery last October, the day before HC’s game against Bucknell at Polar Park. Chesney was one of his first post-op visitors.
“When you play for a man like that,” Dobbs said, “and that’s the guy running your program, anybody in America would be lucky to play for him. I think that says more about Coach Chesney than any coaching job he’s done during any game. He cares about each and every one of us on this team, and he’s one of the best people I’ve ever been around. God bless him.”
Day for offense at Fitton
The Holy Cross offense prevailed over the HC defense, 40-38, to conclude the spring season on a beautiful afternoon and before a great crowd at Fitton Field.
“I really like the way we competed every single day,” Chesney said. “It’s not easy to be part of this program because you have to bring it every single day, and these guys did exactly that all the way through today. I’m just really proud of their effort, their intensity and their ability to get ready to go and compete every single day.”
In between quarters, there were some fun activities for fans, including the re-enactment of last season’s Matthew Sluka-to-Jalen Coker Hail Mary to beat Buffalo. Among those taking part was Coker’s 10-year-old brother, Jaxon, who, of course, caught Sluka’s pass while surrounded by four defenders in the front right corner of the end zone.
Departing Holy Cross seniors Ayir Asante and Dan Kuznetsov did a great job as the sideline reporters.
The day concluded with HC’s Team Impact teammate Jack Savage scoring a touchdown and the Crusaders swarming him in the end zone.
Kennedy steps up to OC post
Earlier this week, Holy Cross officially named Dean Kennedy its offensive coordinator.
Kennedy, who joined HC as quarterbacks coach last season and has done a terrific job aiding in Matthew Sluka’s development, as well as backup QBs Joe Pesansky and Mark Forcucci, replaces Chris Smith. Smith departed in March to become the New York Giants’ assistant offensive line coach.
“He did such a good job with those three quarterbacks,” Chesney said. “Those three quarterbacks are high-level quarterbacks and it’s pretty awesome to watch. We’re going to need all of them. It’s one of those things when it comes down to it, having a coordinator that’s inside the helmet with that quarterback is crucially important. When it’s said and done, Dean did a great job.”
Kennedy previously worked as assistant quarterbacks coach at the University of Florida, and as an offensive graduate assistant at Mississippi State.
Hoop coaches play a role
It has been a busy few weeks for new men’s basketball coach Dave Paulsen, whom HC hired late last month.
He continues to get to know his returning players, while assembling a staff and recruiting. He had three recruits on campus Saturday. Paulsen confirmed that guard Bo Montgomery, who entered the transfer portal at season’s end, withdrew from the portal and will return to Holy Cross.
“It’s all good,” said Paulsen, who spent some time at Fitton Field Saturday, “just a whirlwind. Big picture, this is an even more special place than I realized. It’s such a great place — the facilities, the campus, the people.”
Paulsen and HC women’s basketball coach Maureen Magarity, who guided the Crusaders to the 2022-23 Patriot League championship, each paired with a member of the local media to call plays in the third quarter of Saturday’s game.
Paulsen brought great enthusiasm to the defensive sideline, and, with some guidance from defensive coordinator Scott James, the unit won the quarter with the help of a sack and an interception.
“This is what I want to be a part of,” Paulsen said, “to be part of a community.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @jentolandtg.
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