Stebbins

After the freshman season he turned in for Cornell University's football team, it would be easy for Jake Stebbins to say that he simply wants to pick up where he left off.

But the 2019 Seneca Valley graduate and middle linebacker for the Big Red is always looking to get better and that has been his focus since he last played in a game 20 months ago.

The team missed out on playing in 2020 when the Ivy League canceled the season due to the pandemic.

“My mind-set is to improve on what I lacked as a freshman,” the Cranberry Township resident said. “I was more of an in-the-box player two years ago and I want to improve my speed and quickness, be more of a sideline-to-sideline type of player.”

In 2019, Stebbins was second on the team with 58 tackles, including 4½ sacks, while playing in all 10 games. He was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times and was named to the league's Second Team following the season.

Much of the offseason work Stebbins has turned in has come on his own and he did not shortchange himself in the weight room. Once again, he plans on being on the field for all of Cornell's formations, which include 3-4, 4-3 and 3-3 schemes.

“We have a new linebackers coach (Jeff Comissiong) and I need to prove myself to him,” Stebbins said. “It's going to be a big task.”

The Big Red finished with a 4-6 record in 2019 and Stebbins is hoping to be part of a climb up the league standings.

“We have over 20 guys coming back for their fifth year,” he said. “A lot of them are on offense, so we have experience there.

“Defensively, we are young, but will have a good gameplan in place and the talent to get the job done.”

Cornell is scheduled to open the season at home Sept. 18 against Virginia Military Institute.

“Last fall was the first one since I was 7 that I didn't play football. Classes were all on-line, it was crazy,” said Stebbins. “Just getting back out and playing again, it's all I'm looking forward to right now.”