STILLWATER - Eric Morris is not hiding what he wants from Evan Jackson this preseason: more of the same, and less of the swings.
Jackson, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound safety who followed Morris from North Texas, arrives in Stillwater as one of the most experienced pieces in Skyler Cassity’s defense. He has already played in 39 games over the last three seasons at UNT, and the production is there. But Morris is pressing for a steadier version of the veteran defensive back.
“Evan’s always, and Evan knows this, Evan’s high moments are super high,” Morris said Tuesday. “I’ve been with him for three years.
He’s played a ton of football with us. Super athletic, rangy, can play some man coverage.
He can do all the things we’re asking him to do.
“The consistency factor of it, I think, he’s a kid that his highs have been really high, and his lows have been really low. He’s someone I thought scrimmaged really good this past scrimmage, and for him, he knows the defense.
He communicates at a high level. He’s able to get us in and out of things.
Our safeties are big communicators for us. Like where he’s at right now.
He’s gotta put it all together on a everyday basis.”
That up-and-down profile shows up in Jackson’s PFF numbers from last season. He posted a 74.7 in North Texas’ win over Lamar to open the year, finishing with three tackles and allowing just a five-yard catch. In the Mean Green’s lone regular-season loss to USF, Jackson’s 69.3 grade ranked second among UNT defensive backs, and he had four tackles while not being targeted in coverage.
His best outing may have come in the New Mexico Bowl against San Diego State, where he earned a 72.8 grade while playing 59 defensive snaps, his second-highest total of the season. Jackson delivered a sack on a disguised blitz and also came away with an interception.
“I’d have to say the sack,” said Jackson when asked if the sack or the INT felt cooler. “Getting in that backfield and being able to celebrate, it feels great.”
But the season also included rough patches. Against Charlotte, Jackson graded out at 48.1 after giving up a 64-yard touchdown reception. In the Western Michigan game, he allowed two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown while posting a 52.9 grade.
Morris’ public challenge might sound blunt, but Jackson doesn’t seem bothered by it. He said the coach has been pushing him for years.
“Obviously, I’ve been with him for three years, and he’s always been the coach to get on me and help me strive for greatness and keep up the good work day in and day out,” Jackson said.
The criticism doesn’t erase what Jackson brings to the table. He played in every game North Texas had over his three seasons in Denton, and Cassity said earlier this month that Jackson was one of five players in the mix to start at safety for the Cowboys this season. Whether he opens as a starter or not, he looks set to be part of the rotation.
Jackson said he has already picked up plenty from Cassity.
“Coach Cassity is great,” Jackson said Tuesday. “I think he puts the best players in the best positions to succeed and make plays. Just being able to do that, I think he’ll have a lot of success.
“I’ve learned a lot, obviously since he’s the safeties coach, but being in the room with Coach Cassity and being able to break down the whole defense from front end to back end, that’s been really great.”
A North Shore High product from Houston, Jackson signed with UNT as part of the 2023 recruiting class and made an immediate impact. As a true freshman, he played in all 12 games and made two starts.
He enters his OSU career with 130 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, six interceptions, 101 interception return yards and seven pass breakups. PFF says he has allowed 52 catches on 83 targets in his career.
The résumé says he can play. Morris just wants the next version to show up every day.
“Evan Jackson’s a guy that’s been in our system for a long time, he’s played a lot of football, a guy that needs to take the next step this year,” Morris said earlier this month. “Evan’s kind of one of those guys we’ve had meetings about.
There’s been times he’s flashed, he’s shown he’s got the ability to be great, but he hasn’t put it together consistently for a whole season. He needs to take that next step.”
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