Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
6 0 A P R I L 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M W hen he thought about where he was going to play his college foot- ball, Michigan linebacker Kari Jackson wanted a school with a support- ive team culture. He found just that in James Franklin's program at Penn State. Jackson, a three-star prospect accord- ing to On3, announced on Feb. 28 that he had chosen the Nittany Lions over an assortment of Power Five programs. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder said he was swayed by the relationships he saw be- tween PSU's coaches and players, and also between players and their teammates. "They call themselves brothers there," Jackson said. "They look up to their posi- tion coaches and Coach Franklin as father figures and as role models. I really like the culture there. It's a big family. They're all supporting each other and are there for each other." Jackson spoke with multiple members of Penn State's staff throughout his re- cruitment. Both Franklin and recruiting assistant Alan Zemaitis played pivotal roles. However, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was his primary recruiter. "Manny was huge. He's always been someone that I stayed in contact with heavily throughout the whole recruiting process," Jackson said. "I built a great relationship with Manny personally, and I trust what he's building there. He came up to West Bloomfield High a couple of times. We got on the phone a lot on FaceTime. I think we have a great connection." Jackson totaled 25 scholarship offers over the past two years, ultimately nar- rowing his list down to Penn State, Cin- cinnati, Maryland, Missouri, Stanford, UCF and Wisconsin. Prior to his commitment, he visited Penn State three times. The first of those trips took place in June 2021, shortly be- fore he transferred from West Bloomfield to IMG Academy in Florida. When he returned home the following year, his recruitment intensified. Despite playing in just seven games as a junior, Jackson totaled 103 tackles, including 26 for loss and 3 sacks. He traveled to State College in Octo- ber to see Penn State's White Out win over Minnesota and came back again in January for a junior day. By that point, it was clear that the Nittany Lions were in a strong position with Jackson, who was rated by On3 as the No. 83 linebacker nationally and No. 15 overall prospect in Michigan. "Just being able to see the campus and see the different facilities for the first time, that was exciting for me," he said after his January visit. "Also, I enjoyed being able to sit down with the different coaches and talk to them one-on-one." ■ The Nittany Lions landed their second line- backer prospect of the 2024 cycle when they re- ceived a commitment from three-star defender Kari Jackson of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. It's early in the recruiting process, but Jackson is a quality addition to Penn State's growing class, despite his three-star ranking from On3. STRENGTHS Run defense: Jackson is technically sound and has the size to play big in the box. In so many ways, he's a throwback linebacker with the physical tools to play the run at an elite level. When you turn on his highlight tape, he takes you through each running system, from gap to power to zone, showing you how he effectively dismantles them. Coverage: He may be a physical box line- backer, but Jackson shows great control and awareness in coverage. He can read, flip his hips and run to get into position. There are several examples on his highlight film, but also in full games, of his ability to play pass coverage cor- rectly. Vision: Jackson's vision and anticipation stand out, whether in run defense or passing situa- tions. He shines in run defense, but his work on screens is equally notable. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Speed: He's not slow, but Jackson doesn't have the game-breaking speed of the other recent Penn State linebacker commits. While the Mike doesn't have to be as fast as the Sam or Will outside linebackers, he must be able to cover fast players in space. Ceiling: Players who check all the boxes from a mental standpoint but don't have a distinc- tive physical presence tend to get lumped into a "high floor, low ceiling" category. Playing fast and showing good range is the easiest way to break out of that mold. PROJECTION Mike linebacker: Clearly, this is the best and likely only position for Jackson. He's a throwback bruiser who can patrol the middle of the field and command the box as a run defender. His vision, instincts and physicality should overcome any lack of length or limitations in his toolkit. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Michigan Linebacker Finds A Football Family At Penn State RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE KARI JACKSON Jackson received offers from Cincinnati, Maryland, Missouri, Stanford and others but chose the Nittany Lions in February. PHOTO COURTESY JACKSON FAMILY