Jacksonville Fl- It’s a dream come true for Colorado State linebacker Dequan Jackson. The former Lee General (Riverside HS) was signed by his hometown NFL team as an undrafted free agent, turning his childhood dreams into a grown-up reality.
Jackson was a team captain for both his junior and senior years in high school. Affectionately called “the backyard” Riverside’s football field is where Jackson earned his gridiron stripes, but also the captain distinction.
The hard hitting linebacker gained the trust of his teammates and coaches through hard work and sacrifice, attributes that exemplify a team captain.
On a loaded Generals team with several future collegiate athletes, Jackson caught the attention of teammates and coaches in practice with his hustle and hard hits. That would translate into game changing plays on the field. (We mentioned him in this article)
He would take a lead on defense, navigating the Generals to consecutive district and conference titles, including a trip to the FHSAA State Semifinals vs Plant. He registered 91 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception his senior year.
As a Times-Union Super 11 in 2017, Jackson earned all-conference, all-district and Duval Sports all-area honors. Coaches voted him defensive MVP in 2018 before he committed to Colorado State University.
At Colorado State, Jackson once again earned the respect and trust of his teammates. In five years while Jackson was at CSU, three of those years he was voted team captain. It began early as he played in 10 games as a freshman, and by his sophomore season had already established himself as a defensive leader.
His junior and senior campaigns at the program saw him lead Colorado State in tackles, while racking up several Mountain West Conference honors including..
2020 All-Mountain West, 2nd Team
2020 Phil Steele All-Mountain West, 2nd Team
2022 Honorable mention All-Mountain West 2021 All- Mountain West, Honorable Mention
2021 Phil Steele All-Mountain West, 3rd Team
After a stellar college career, Jackson would turn his attention to training for the NFL Draft. He impressed scouts and coaches at Colorado State’s pro day, prompting the Jacksonville Jaguars to sign him as an undrafted free agent.
Customarily, undrafted free agents must make big impacts in pre-season games to earn the attention of NFL coaches for consideration on the final 53-man roster.
Yet this isn’t uncharted territory for Jackson, as he’s accustomed to showcasing play-making ability and confidence. In fact, the day that he committed to CSU he tweeted “Time to shock the world”.
It’s that same confidence, that’s captained his journey from the “backyard” to the Mountain West, and now back home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Keep your eye on Jackson this preseason.
