Nebraska has landed itself on the early itinerary for one of the biggest names in the 2029 class, and the list of schools chasing him reads like a who’s who of college football heavyweights.
Defensive tackle J’Deion Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 330-pound force from The First Academy in Orlando, Florida, is set to visit Lincoln on October 3 for Nebraska’s game against Maryland. For Matt Rhule and the Huskers, that means a chance to make an impression on a player who is already drawing national attention before he’s even eligible to sign.
Jackson’s profile is as loud as his offer sheet. He’s ranked No. 2 nationally in the 2029 class, No. 1 among defensive linemen, and No. 1 in Florida. He already has 29 offers, with Nebraska in the mix alongside Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Colorado State, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Maryland, Miami, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA, and West Virginia, among others.
And yes, the athlete part is real. Jackson isn’t just a disruptive presence on the defensive front - he’s also shown plenty on offense at The First Academy. He has rushed for 86 yards on 10 carries and added 120 receiving yards on seven catches with one touchdown, working in at tight end.
His fall schedule is already filling up with major visits. Jackson is set to be at LSU on September 5 for the Clemson game, at Texas on September 12 against Ohio State, at Tennessee on October 17 against Alabama, and at Ohio State on November 7 against Oregon.
The family ties around Jackson are just as notable. His brother Ja’Keem Jackson plays cornerback at LSU.
Another brother ran track at Kentucky and Florida and is now considering the professional route. T’Sharvan Bell, a cousin, played at Auburn, while another cousin, Shaquille Bell, attended Colorado State.
Devin Jackson, another cousin, is a freshman safety at Oregon.
For Nebraska, the challenge is obvious: there’s a long way to go, and SEC powers are circling hard. The early buzz points to Florida as the frontrunner, but with a prospect this young and this coveted, nothing is close to settled yet.
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