Florida State’s roster boasts numerous players with the potential to emerge as standout performers by the season’s conclusion. Among them, redshirt junior defensive tackle Darrell Jackson is particularly captivating for fans as they anticipate his performance on Saturday.
Jackson enters Week 0 with significant motivation, having missed the first 13 games of the 2023 season due to an outdated NCAA transfer rule. He finally made his debut in the Orange Bowl, but the conditions were not ideal for showcasing his abilities.
Jackson is gaining national recognition after being included in Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘Freak’ list earlier this month, sharing the spotlight with teammate Joshua Farmer. The Athletic reporter noted the 6-foot-5, 330-pound defensive tackle as one of ten non-quarterbacks who could influence the College Football Playoff race, highlighting that he was the only player from the ACC on the list.
Feldman remarked on the Seminoles’ strong defense in 2023, which lost key players Braden Fiske and Jared Verse to the NFL, stating they were highly disruptive with a combined 21.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. He emphasized that Jackson stands out due to his impressive size and physical attributes, including 11-inch hands and 36-inch arms. After transferring from Miami, where he started 12 games in 2022 and recorded 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, Jackson has shown remarkable performance at FSU, impressing coaches with his speed and ability to create pressure alongside Farmer.
Jackson’s physical traits and athleticism make him a popular candidate to excel in college football in 2024. He possesses 36-inch arms, 11-inch hands, and impressive strength, squatting over 600 pounds and benching over 400 pounds, along with a recorded speed of 20.6 mph in full pads.
While Jackson’s play consistency has been a work in progress since joining Florida State, he appears to be improving this preseason. Head coach Mike Norvell praised Jackson’s resilience in facing challenges and using his experience as a motivational example for the team.
Originally a three-star recruit who signed with Maryland in the 2021 class, Jackson played a rotational role for the Terrapins before transferring to Miami. He started all 12 games for the Hurricanes in 2022, contributing significantly in games against FSU. In total, he has played in 26 games with 14 starts, accumulating 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, and one pass breakup.
Jackson’s highly anticipated season will kick off on Saturday when Florida State faces Georgia Tech at noon EST, with the game being broadcast nationally on ESPN.
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