How 'Faith, Family and Football' Brought DL Signee Jayden Jackson to Oklahoma

One visit to Norman was all it took coveted IMG Academy defensive lineman Jayden Jackson to realize that Oklahoma aligned perfectly with what he was looking for in a college.

Based on the family environment around the program, the faith-based approach of head coach Brent Venables and the staff’s love of football, Jackson said that he and his family knew that Norman was the right place for him after their first trip to Norman.

“Just sitting down talking with Coach Venables and talking with Todd Bates. Those two, man, they’re amazing. Sitting down with Venables, he just was talking about preaching, actually,” Jackson told AllSooners.

“Faith, family and football, and that’s top three, actually, on my list of morals that I want to have when going to a school and hearing that from a head coach, yeah, I was pretty much sold when I was sitting right next to my mom.”

Jackson took his official visit to Norman in late June before committing to OU in mid-July. Jackson was a big victory for Bates and company on the recruiting trail, as the talented interior defensive lineman chose the Sooners over Texas, Miami and Ohio State.

Despite, holding offers from some of the best programs in the nation, Jackson says that his decision was about much more than football, repeatedly highlighting his relationship with Oklahoma’s coaching staff and the familial environment around the program.

“I don’t even see them as coaches,” Jackson said. “They’re actually pretty close, I’m pretty sure me and my family see them as another family member, another part of our family.”

In addition to the aforementioned off-field aspects, Jackson said that he is excited to participate in the S.O.U.L. Mission now that he is on campus. Like Jackson, many other recruits highlighted the initiative as one of their primary interests in OU.

The S.O.U.L. Mission is an enrichment program that hires former OU athletes to help mentor current Sooners, with a focus on developing and growing their futures off the field to create additional opportunities after their career on the field is over.

“The S.O.U.L. Mission, I know you’ve heard of it, a lot of Sooner fans have heard of it. I’m definitely excited to work with that because it’s just giving to the community and at the end goal, that’s what I want to do at the end of my life when i’m retired.”

Originally from Brownsburg, IN, Jackson finished his high school career at IMG Academy as a 4-star recruit, rated one of the top 11 defensive lineman in the nation, according to Rivals.

At IMG, Jackson was teammates with fellow 2024 OU defensive line signee David Stone, saying that he is excited to enter the next chapter of his career with the 5-star prospect.

“(David Stone) is my dog, that’s my guy, that’s my ride or die,” Jackson said. “Now that he’s home, I’m ready to go with him. We’re about to both compete in the best decision of football.”

The Sooners’ will need two players of Jackson and Stone’s size, stature and skill level as they head into the SEC. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Jackson already has a good frame for an interior defensive lineman and will get even bigger after a few months in OU’s strength and conditioning program.

At IMG Academy, Jackson often was able to disrupt both run and pass plays from the interior, using his quickness to shoot gaps and get into the backfield. After learning from Bates and the rest of the Sooners’ staff, Jackson should have well-refined technique to go along with his size and quickness.

“I’m a technique kind of guy, you know, I have more technique,” Jackson told AllSooners. “I try making my technique as perfect as possible. If they slant through my gap, I had a lot of help with my coach at IMG Academy.”

After officially signing his NLI to play for Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jackson has already started practicing with the team as they prepare to take on Arizona in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. While the young defensive lineman won’t be able to participate in the game, getting the reps now will help give Jackson an upper hand, and a better chance at seeing the field, as he heads into his first season with the Sooners.

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