TCU lands commitment from hometown OT Jacoby Jackson
THE SITUATION
Jacoby Jackson fielded nearly 40 scholarship offers over the past few years, but ultimately, the Dallas-Fort Worth offensive lineman knew where he was heading a long time ago.
Jackson, a three-star offensive tackle from Mansfield (Texas) Summit High School, committed to TCU on Friday. Kansas, Baylor, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Florida State and Georgia Tech were among the finalists for the highly sought-after lineman.
Jackson is currently tabbed as the No. 98 overall player from the Lone Star State in 2021. He is the fifth addition to TCU's current recruiting class, which entered the day ranked No. 85 nationally, per the Rivals team rankings. Jackson is only the second member of the Horned Frogs' class from the state and the fifth three-star overall.
It's also worth pointing out that Jackson's father, Cedric Jackson, played running back for TCU. He played for the Horned Frogs when they were a member of the Southwest Conference from 1988 through 1990, amassing nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scoring 10 total touchdowns during his three-year career.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
"I realized I wanted to go to TCU a long time ago. The biggest reason I wanted to commit (now) is because of how close I am with everybody; we’re already a family and I know they have my back."
"This was definitely the toughest decision of my life. What separated them from everyone is that they're close to home, so it’s not hard for my family to make games. Playing in the Big 12, they're constantly putting guys in the NFL and I know I can get a great education there."
"I would definitely say Coach (Garrett) Altman (played a big role). They just constantly checked up on me and made sure I was good. Most of our conversations aren’t even about football; it’s about other important things in life."
"What stood out to me most is just how much they can help me during college and after football. They have many things to set me up for greatness. They think I can be a great tackle for them. I know I can go in and compete early, which I can’t wait to do. The biggest selling point is them putting a whole bunch of guys in the league, especially at the O-line position. They have like 11 current offensive linemen in the league and those guys are actually playing."
RIVALS REACTION
Jackson is a dual-sport standout for Mansfield Summit, competing in both football and track and field, where he throws shot put and discus. He possesses an ideal frame at 6-foot-6 and just north of 300 pounds.
As a sophomore in 2018, Jackson recorded 17 pancake blocks in eight games. On film, Jackson improved that total to 21 last season -- and did so play tackle on both the left and the right side. Based on what he's asked to do for his high school offense, Jackson showed he could also slide inside to guard, if need be.
Jackson has natural upper-body strength, which allows him to drive defenders out of the play and finish at the point of attack, which was made quite evident with his near-40 knockdowns the past two seasons. He can impose his will and has quick feet to get into position in a flash.
Jackson also shows some impressive athleticism when he's asked to pull across the formation and pave running lanes. He moves well in space is effective in clearing out defenders on screen passes or outside runs. He also pulls off chop-blocks with ease.
At TCU, Jackson will need to improve his hand placement and could benefit from better arm extension. If he could explode through his hips, he may be able to pack a better initial punch as a run-blocker and in pass pro.