Since Jacob Savage stepped into Ryle High School, he has distinguished himself on the football field.
By the time he reached his junior year, college coaches began to take notice. On Friday, in the high school library, the Raiders junior announced his commitment to continue both his academic and football career at Indiana University.
“It was an obvious choice for me to go to Indiana,” Savage shared. “From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with Bloomington and the entire coaching staff. Coach Cignetti and Coach Haynes have a winning mindset and truly care about their players.”
Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 225 pounds, Savage had listed Purdue, Indiana, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Michigan State, and Minnesota as his final choices after receiving over 15 Division I offers.
Savage will be a candidate for Mr. Football in the 2025 season. Currently rated as a three-star prospect, he has been recruited as a linebacker. According to 247 Sports, he ranks as the No. 6 player in Kentucky and the No. 53 linebacker in the nation for the 2026 class.
“I believe he’s the best player in Kentucky, without a doubt,” said Raiders coach Mike Engler.
The phrase “state title” was mentioned multiple times on Friday in front of nearly 100 of Savage’s family, teammates, coaches, mentors, and classmates.
In 2024, Ryle had a record of 12-3 and advanced to the Class 6A state championship game, with Savage playing a crucial role. He rushed for 1,085 yards and scored 22 touchdowns, while also recording 29 receptions for 313 yards and four touchdowns. As a two-way player, he achieved 141 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception for the Class 6A runner-up Raiders.
“They’re getting a kid at Indiana who gives his all in the weight room, puts in the effort on the football field, studies film, and is a leader,” Engler noted. “He wants everyone around him to succeed just like he does. He’s a true student of the game—a 4.0 student who genuinely loves playing.”
Throughout his career, Savage has amassed 397 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, six sacks, four interceptions, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble on defense. Offensively, he has rushed for 1,613 yards, scored 30 rushing touchdowns, made 51 receptions for 545 yards, and recorded six receiving touchdowns. Over his three years in Union, he has scored a total of 218 points and led the team in tackles each season.
Ryle is expected to have a strong season this fall, returning nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters.
“We made it to the state last year but didn’t finish the job, which left a bad taste in all our mouths,” Savage remarked. “We’re ready to prepare for the season and aim for a 15-0 record.”
This marks the second consecutive year that Ryle has sent a football player to a Power 5 University, with Dillon Smith signing with the University of Louisville and already enrolling on campus.
Savage is among three high school football players from Northern Kentucky in the 2026 class who have committed to a Division I school so far. Max Merz from Highlands is committed to Louisville, while Cooper’s Cam O’Hara has committed to Western Kentucky.
Savage intends to sign in December and enroll at Bloomington in January to join the team for spring practice. He is also interested in majoring in business, which played a significant role in his decision.
In the meantime, fans can expect to hear plenty of “Oh Yeah’s” over the PA system this fall in Union, a phrase shouted after big plays by the Raiders star, reminiscent of former wrestler Randy “Macho Man” Savage.
Leave a Reply