Jayden Jackson has gone from a promising piece of Oklahoma’s front to one of the reasons the Sooners’ defense has been so sturdy to open 2026.
Through four weeks of his junior year, the Oklahoma defensive tackle has piled up 15 total tackles, eight solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. He’s also been a problem for quarterbacks, generating five pressures and earning a 69.5 Pro Football Focus defensive grade.
That production comes after a stretch that could have slowed him down. Jackson was a Freshman All-American in 2024, then dealt with a shoulder injury in the second half of 2025 before having surgery and sitting out the entire spring while he recovered. Even so, linebacker Kip Lewis said the return to form hasn’t surprised him.
“(He’s) consistent, man, I can tell you for a fact,” Lewis said. “He's gonna show up every game and lay it down.”
Jackson’s impact has shown up inside a defense that has largely been excellent. Oklahoma leads the SEC in pass defense, giving up just 122.5 passing yards per game. Opponents are averaging only 16 points and 238 yards per game against the Sooners.
The tackling, though, has been the one rough edge. Oklahoma has missed 49 tackles in its first four games, and dual-threat quarterbacks have given the Sooners trouble on option looks. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, Georgia’s Gunner Stockton and UTEP’s EJ Colson all caused issues in that area.
Jackson has been one of the cleaner tacklers on the roster. His 78.4 PFF tackling grade ranks third among Oklahoma defenders with more than 50 snaps.
It’s easy to nitpick that part of the defense when the Sooners are still unbeaten, but the broader point is hard to miss: with the offense still searching and the schedule about to stiffen, Oklahoma needs its defense to keep delivering at a high level.
Lewis says Jackson has bought into that standard, even if he isn’t wearing a captain’s label yet as a third-year player.
“He always comes up to me and will tell me, ‘We'll go, we'll go where you lead,’” Lewis said.
Oklahoma is off this week and will return Oct. 10 against No. 1 Texas.
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Tory Blaylock could be the piece that changes the feel of that offense. The sophomore missed time with an injury and has only had limited carries so far, but his past efficiency and speed have stood out enough to make him a real candidate for a bigger role moving forward. If Oklahoma is going to get its run game moving in the right direction, Blaylock looks like the kind of back who could help it happen. [Read more 🡒]
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Oklahomas 2028 Recruiting Push Is Starting To Get Very Real
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The interesting part for Oklahoma is that these are not simply courtesy stops on the itinerary. Each of the visitors is also mapping out trips to other programs, and some have already trimmed their lists with the Sooners still in the mix. For a staff trying to stay ahead in the next cycle, getting that many early visits lined up is a sign the pitch is landing, even if the real decision-making is still a long way off. [Read more 🡒]