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20 CAVALIER CORNER Growing up, Jackson got to know former UVA stars Tony Covington and Chris Slade. Covington, who is now the Cavaliers' radio analyst, and Doug Jackson are fraternity brothers, and Slade is a high school coach in Atlanta. Still, Jackson weighed his options carefully before committing to Virginia in October 2018. "My dad just wanted me to go to a great academic and athletic institution," he said. "We just kind of continued to look around and see which one was going to be best for me. But Virginia was always where my heart was, and I was just making sure that the other places didn't have my heart as well. Vir- ginia ended up being the best place for me." To have another thing in common with his father "means a lot," Jackson said. "My mom and my dad are definitely my role models," he continued. "It's kind of funny because when my dad comes up here sometimes, he just drives around and doesn't need any directions. Just tell him a place to be, and he can get there easily." That the Atlanta area has been so well- represented in Mendenhall's program didn't hurt UVA's chances of landing Jackson. For- mer players from that part of Georgia include Jordan Mack, Jordan Ellis and Rob Snyder. Current Cavaliers from the Atlanta area in- clude Jackson, Blount, second-year wideout Jared Rayman, fourth-year defensive back Joe Comer, first-year offensive lineman Ty Furnish, third-year linebacker T.C. Harrison, second- year punter Brendan Farrell and second-year offensive lineman Jonathan Leech. "It definitely made it a lot more attrac- tive," Jackson said. "Jordan Mack went to a private school that was in my region, and Joey Blount went to a private school in my area. The pipeline was kind of there, and a lot of guys I saw from where I grew up suc- ceeded. They loved it here and embodied Virginia's culture. So I felt like the transition would be easy for me." Jackson was tabbed as a preseason All-ACC selection and named to the watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation's top line- backer. (Photo by Matt Riley/ courtesy UVA) " My dad just wanted me to go to a great academic and athletic institution. We just kind of continued to look around and see which one was going to be best for me. But Virginia was always where my heart was, and I was just making sure that the other places didn't have my heart as well. Virginia ended up being the best place for me." NICK JACKSON