It's always been easy to spot senior center Eric Jacobsen on the court. Standing at 6-foot-10, Jacobsen has perennially been one of the tallest players on the ASU roster over the course of his Sun Devil career. But anyone looking for the bulky 260-pound post player from a year ago won't find him. That Eric Jacobsen is long gone.

It has been replaced with a leaner and quicker version.

Jacobsen, who shed over 25 pounds in the offseason, said the new coaching staff did not request the weight loss, but rather he took the initiative to come into this season in better shape.

According to Jacobsen, the decision to slim down was two-fold. In previous years he typically had the highest body-fat percentage on the team and wanted this season - his last at ASU - to be different.

Perhaps even more important, Jacobsen knew that a lower weight would help him acclimate to the faster style of play that his new coach, Bobby Hurley, was bringing to Tempe.

"Last year, at times, I would get [easily] fatigued and get 'out-quicked' by guys on the floor," Jacobsen said. "When I learned that [Hurley] was going to be our coach, I looked back at how Buffalo played last year. It was up and down, up and down. So I knew if I was going to keep up this year, something had to give. And that was the extra weight I was carrying."

Over the summer Jacobsen consulted with a nutritionist, and with the help of ASU sports performance coach Rich Wenner, he completely revamped his diet. The results were almost immediate - and the pounds came off quickly. The effects of the weight loss carried over to the court as well, where Jacobsen is noticeably quicker and more agile.

"He's in great shape physically," Hurley stated. "The body fat is way down and he's moving great. He's been all over the offensive glass and his mobility has been terrific."

In addition to transforming his body, Jacobsen added a few tools to his offensive repertoire over the summer. He worked out with former ASU star Jeff Ayres (formerly Pendergraph), who helped Jacobsen develop his face-up game. As a result, Jacobsen said his range has extended out to the three-point line and he has become more comfortable driving the ball to the hoop.

"With the weight loss, I knew this year I wouldn't be able to bang as much inside," Jacobsen explained. "So I knew I had to get quicker and face the basket more."

The two Sun Devil post players - one current and one former - worked out daily at ASU's practice facility. They focused on shooting, footwork, post position and even played a little one-on-one. Jacobsen's "apprenticeship" under Ayres gave him a unique opportunity to learn the game from his childhood hero.

"He was the guy I grew up watching," Jacobsen said. "I came to the Herb Sendek Camp when he was working it and I even had a poster of him hanging in my room. So it was kind of surreal to be working out with him. It was very cool."

Jacobsen has seen his role steadily increase since he arrived at ASU. He was a role player in his first two seasons, primarily serving as Jordan Bachynski's backup. However, he enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, blossoming into one of the top post players in the Pac-12. The former Chandler Hamilton standout averaged 8.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting .626 from the field.

Jacobsen has also developed into a strong post defender and unofficially led ASU in charges taken last year. Hurley has been impressed with his defensive ability thus far and thinks he is capable of anchoring the Sun Devil defense from the back line. Hurley said that he possesses a high basketball IQ and is "extremely knowledgeable" about defensive positioning.

Hurley is no stranger when it comes to coaching talented frontcourt players. In his two seasons at Buffalo, he saw two of his players Javon McCrae (2014) and Justin Moss (2015) - both power forwards - win the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year award.

"At Buffalo, our offense was often run through our big men," Hurley said. "And I think Eric could be utilized in a similar fashion this season. If he stays healthy, and keeps trending the way he's trending, he's a guy that could surprise a lot of people with the type of year he could have statistically."

As one of only three seniors on the ASU roster, Jacobsen said he is ready for an expanded role this season. He has also embraced the role of leader on this year's team.

"I definitely feel more responsible as a senior," Jacobsen explained. "I know that I need to show [the less experienced players] how to do things the right way."

Jacobsen realizes this is his last go-around and said his goal for this season is simple: he wants to win the Pac-12 Championship and return to the NCAA Tournament. He's only been to the Big Dance once in his career (in 2014) and that experience left a bad taste in his mouth.

"This time I'd like for us to make a nice run," Jacobsen said. "I don't want to come home after the first game."