When Oregon inside linebacker and Iowa transfer Jestin Jacobs first took the field during the Ducks’ second defensive possession against Washington State on Saturday, he admitted he was nervous.

Given it’s been nearly two years since Jacobs has played an entire football game, and his first as an Oregon Duck, defensive back Khyree Jackson spoke to Jacobs before the game and told him to take it a play at a time.

“It really put it into perspective,” Jacobs said. “I don’t gotta do nothing special. It’s football, I’ve been doing this.”

Oregon's Jestin Jacobs shines in first game after injury

Jacobs had not played or dressed for any of the Ducks’ first six games of the season due to a foot injury. In his first action back, the junior recorded a sack and totaled six tackles, good for third-best on the team.

From the safety spot, Evan Williams had full confidence in Jacobs’ ability to step in and perform right away.

“He did great,” Williams said. “It obviously takes normally a couple of games to get your feet back under you and get back into the feel of full speed tackling and all that. I have a lot of confidence when I look into the box and see No. 4 in there. He comes up and fits that run, he flies sideline to sideline. It’s just awesome to see him back out there after all he’s been through.”

Jacobs has had a bumpy last few seasons, previously at Iowa and now in Eugene. The inside backer played sparingly in his freshman season in Iowa City before becoming a full-fledged starter and totaling 53 tackles as a sophomore.

His junior season was cut short by a soft-tissue injury he suffered in Week 1. Eventually, Jacobs opted to transfer to Eugene, fulfilling a lifelong dream of being an Oregon Duck.

'It felt great to be back'

The transfer dealt with a foot injury during fall camp and for the first seven weeks of the season, but finally made his return to the field – and for the first time at Autzen Stadium.

“It felt great, man,” Jacobs said. “Growing up and being a huge Oregon fan and being out there with my brothers after all this time, it felt great … it felt great to be back.”

The junior said he focused on his rehab and supporting his teammates while he was out. He couldn’t wait to talk with the training and weight staff again to thank them for his return to the field.

“I just knew that they would keep helping me to get back,” Jacobs said. “As long as I handled my business, I knew I’d be on the field. When the moment came, I knew I had to seize it.”

And seize it he did. Jacobs recorded his first career sack in his first game back, and already looks every bit the part of his 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame.

The best is yet to come, per his teammates and coaches.

“He’s relentless,” Williams said. “His sideline to sideline is crazy. He’s probably one of our fastest backers and he just has no fear. When he’s coming to the ball he’s coming to make a play … he’s happier out there, I can see it on his face to finally be out there after being on the sideline for so long.”

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on Twitter @AlecDietz.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks football's Jestin Jacobs plays first game after injury