By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University offensive lineman Jacob Glendinning is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds.
Washburn offensive lineman Jacob Glendinning is looking to close out his Ichabod career with a big senior year after earning third-team All-MIAA recognition a year ago. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But after five-plus years of college weight training and conditioning, the former Washburn Rural football and wrestling stantout is carrying very few excess pounds as he gets ready to kick off his final season in an Ichabod uniform Thursday night at Pittsburg State.
"I've dropped about 10 pounds, but just being in the weight room with (David) Trupp (WU strength coach) and the guys working out every summer puts the muscle mass on you and you definitely become a college football player quick when you make that jump from high school to college,'' Glendinning said.
"I'm bigger now than I was in high school for sure. The baby fat's gone. It's all muscle and stuff that helps me out on the field move people.''
The 2018 Washburn Rural graduate has put together a very solid career at Washburn, playing in 29 games with 23 starts and earning All-MIAA third-team recognition a year ago when he helped the Ichabods average 401.5 yards of total offense, which ranked fourth in the conference.
Glendinning feels proud of what he's been able to accomplish at WU and is looking to cap his college career with his best year yet.
"I think that coming out of high school I had high expectations for myself and what I was going to do with the awards I came out with my senior year, going to the Shrine Bowl and being regarded as one of the best in the state,'' Glendinning said. "And coming to Washburn has really helped me propel myself to that next opportunity to achieve the dreams I have.
:"Last year I was third-team all-conference and this year I'm shooting to be first-team all-conference and then see if I can get any All-American honors and go from there.''
Washburn coach Craig Schurig said Glendinning has that potential.
"He's durable, he's tough as heck and very powerful,'' Schurig said. "When he locks on someone it's over.and we really anticipate him having a great senior year. He's made steps each year and I think his confidence is really ready to have a great year.''
Glendinning is part of a talented, experienced offensive line unit that is being counted on to be a strength for the Ichabods, who are coming off a 7-4 season.
"The offensive line is all returning,'' Glendinning said. "We're all six-year seniors, all my age. We've been in the system. We know how to do things correctly. We know the plays, we know what we're going to face every week and we're really looking forward to being something that our offense can rely on to run the ball and win games, just dominant the time of possession.''
Washburn offensive lineman Jacob Glendinning is hopeful that a big senior year could earn him an opportunity to play professional football. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
With the size that makes him attractive to pro scouts, Glendinning is hopeful that a big senior year could help him get a chance to play at the next level.
"I hope so,'' he said. "We'll see how the year goes for sure, but it's definitely a goal I set for myself with my size and the film that I put out.
"I hopefully get that (professional) opportunity like the guys before me, guys like Kyle Hinton, Brian Folkerts, JJ Letcher, Peter Afful, all these guys that came to Washburn before me and paved the way. I hope to use that road as well.''
