Port Clinton’s versatile Escobedo headed to Otterbein

It seemed like Port Clinton’s Jesse Escobedo spent time at nearly every position on the football field last season. And Redskins coach Beau Carmon trusted Escobedo at all of them.

Escobedo will continue his career at Otterbein University as a wide receiver. Escobedo was a captain and started at free safety as a junior.

“He’s resilient,” Carmon said. “He battled some knee issues as a senior, but he was our key utility player. He’s a tremendous receiver – he has great hands. He had a great catch to break the game open at Conneaut.

“He can play anywhere. That speaks on how much time he put in studying. He played on offense and defense and was great on special teams.”

Escobedo, who wants to be an athletic trainer, grew as a leader for Port Clinton.

“You could sense the respect he got in the locker room,” Carmon said. “He developed in a number of ways. His goal was to play college football and we’re ecstatic he got that opportunity.

“You could trust him to do anything because we could put him anywhere. It was great to get to know him for two years.”

Initially, Escobedo was quiet and just tried to do his job.

“I made plays when I had a chance when I was younger,” he said. “I became more outspoken. I make plays sometimes when we need them and I do what I have to do. I improved a lot. Football is the biggest thing in my life.

“If I’m having a bad day, I can go lift and that makes me better for football. Football is my release and I’ve met so many great people through it. I want to get bigger, faster and stronger. I hope to start as a freshman and help make Otterbein better.”

Escobedo was sold on Otterbein after a visit.

“I loved it,” he said. “It felt like home. The stadium is amazing. I could see the guys as family. The coaches are cool and it felt like Port Clinton.”

Escobedo was part of the first Redskins team to qualify to the postseason.

“I was proud to see the way we grew as a team and a family,” he said. “We all got close. Knowing we made history and took a step building the team as a program – I’m proud to be part of that senior class.

“Beating Genoa … once that happened I knew the offseason lifting and leadership (sessions) paid off. We were hungry and we had to keep going after that.”

mhorn@gannett.com

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Twitter:@MatthewHornNH