I’m sitting down to chat with Jacob Thorp with just a few weeks left of high school. He is ready to move forward. Not because he’s rushing toward something—but because he’s prepared. And that preparation comes from more than just academics or athletics. It comes from growing up in a town where people wave as they pass, where family dinners happen nightly, and where you’re trusted until you give someone a reason not to.

“I’ve lived in the same house my whole life,” Jacob says. “My parents moved here a year before I was born, and this has always been home.”

That deep sense of rootedness gives Jacob’s story a quiet strength. He’s not chasing a dream to escape something. He’s chasing it because he knows what stability feels like—and he wants to carry that forward.

This fall, Jacob will attend Iowa State University, where he plans to pursue a degree in either physical therapy or as a physician assistant. The choice wasn’t always clear. “I toured a lot of schools,” he says. “My mom made sure of that. But Iowa State just felt right.”

His decision wasn’t just academic—it was personal. Several of his cousins attended Iowa State and found both careers and community there. One even encouraged him to consider becoming a PA. And one of the trainers at Knoxville High—“we call him BJ”—helped him see how rewarding physical therapy can be.

“If I end up wanting to change paths, that’s okay, too,” Jacob says. “Maybe education. Maybe something else. But for now, this feels like the right step.”

In many ways, Jacob has already been laying the foundation. He’s a National Honor Society member, carrying a 3.8 GPA and aiming to nudge it higher—an extra 0.1 bump could earn him a scholarship boost. He’s been a four-year athlete in both football and baseball, earning All-Conference honors as a lineman his junior and senior years.

But his reflections go deeper than stats.

“I kind of wish I could go back and add more—maybe track, maybe basketball,” he says. “I didn’t really grow until junior year, so I missed some of that. But I also know everything I’ve done got me here. And I’m proud of that.”

That ability to reflect without regret—just curiosity—is one of Jacob’s strengths. He’s thoughtful, maybe even a little self-critical, but grounded. “I’m an overthinker,” he admits. “But I think that’s okay. It helps me see things from more angles.”

His appreciation for the big picture also shows up in his perspective on family. Jacob’s older brother James played football at Augustana before transferring to Western Illinois and eventually finding his path in fire science and law enforcement. “We’re opposites,” Jacob says. “He’s probably more athletic, but I’m more academic. And I think that’s a good thing. I didn’t want to just follow his exact path.”

Still, James’ struggles helped shape Jacob’s choices. “Seeing how hard it was for him made me realize—just because you love something doesn’t mean it’ll always be easy. That was a big lesson.”

Another major influence has been Coach Everard, Knoxville’s head football coach. “He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” Jacob says. “He played the same position as me—line—and he was always there. Every drill, every rep. He pushed me, believed in me, and gave me a shot when I needed it most.”

Jacob didn’t start varsity as a sophomore, even though it was expected. He just wasn’t ready. But by junior year, things clicked—and Coach Everard was right there, guiding and backing him the whole way.

“It made a big difference,” Jacob says. “He coached me as me, not as my brother. That meant a lot.”

As the summer approaches, Jacob is looking forward to a little breathing room—no more 8 a.m. weight sessions, for starters. But mostly, he’s ready to write the next chapter of his story, building on the strong foundation that Knoxville gave him.

“I don’t want to skim past the summer,” he says. “But I’m excited. It’s a new chapter.”

And while Jacob may not always realize it, he’s carrying more than a diploma to Iowa State—he’s carrying a worldview rooted in family, resilience, reflection, and a quiet kind of ambition. The kind that says: I don’t need to be loud to make a difference.