Jaiden Jackson, Class of 2020, is he Murray’s top-remaining Tiger?

Photo from prospect’s Hudl page

If Class of 2020’s Jaiden Jackson isn’t an example of the opportunity colleges have to come into the Bluegrass and take back to its school game-changing football talent, we (perhaps) have never seen one. By the time this article concludes you will be left wondering just how every recruiter in the country hasn’t converged on Calloway County to gain the commitment of Jaiden Jackson.

Perhaps he is coming in under the radar because he just isn’t fast enough to play at the next level? Well, he has a registered 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds. Who timed his forty, his Dad? Don’t know the answer to that but his Dad didn’t time the 10.9-second, 100-meter, fully-automated, sprint he registered as a member of the Murray High School’s track & field team. Daddy hasn’t helped him pull the 425-pounds he deadlifts either.

Maybe he just doesn’t have Division-I frame? Wrong, at 6-2 and weighing 192 pounds he has plenty of frame to play at either his offensive or defensive deployments. On offense, Jackson is a WR and defensively he plays DE. 

Is he one of those short and shirt All-Americans? You know, the kind who looks good running around snagging passes in 7 on 7 play but disappear as soon as the hitting starts? Well, last year as a Junior, Jackson caught 43 passes for 672 yards with 9 TDs. On defense at End, he led the team with 4 QB sacks, forced two fumbles, and recovered a fumble.

In one of the more important games of the year, in round two of the playoffs on the road at Owensboro Catholic, Jackson took over the game, scored three TDs for the Tigers, and led them to an improbably victory over Catholic and berth in the Regional Championship Game against Mayfield. Check out his highlights and make up your own mind about whether the young man can play.

So what gives? How in the world can a player like Jaiden Jackson not be just swimming in FBS, power-five offers? The only thing to which we can attribute it is the perception Kentucky is a “basketball” state. Literally, in any other state, this kid would be having to hide from recruiters in his bedroom closet to gain a moment’s peace.

Obviously, Jackson is poised to have a tremendous year in 2019. Sure, the Tigers lose to graduation Mark Thompson and his ground production (194 carries, 1,281 yards, 17 rushing TDs). However, Class of 2020 QB Hunter Utley (176 for 316 for 2,454 yards passing, and 26 TDs against 10 picks) is back and Jorden Duffy will return for another year lined-up opposite Jackson. In 2018, Duffy caught 60 passes for 648 yards and 7 TDs. Taken together, the triumvirate of Utley to Jackson and/or Duffy returns to Coach Keith Hodge’s Tigers the nucleus of both a potent and lethal air attack.

All eyes will be on Jaiden Jackson in 2019, especially those around the first district of the 2A classification. If the area colleges and universities fielding football teams were smart, they would have a few eyes on the young man too. After all, Jackson looks poised to rise above the competition in 2019 and transform into Murray’s Top-remaining Tiger. At least, that is our take on the matter.

Reporting for KPGFootball, this is F.W. Long, reminding all of you ballers out there to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE.

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About Fletcher Long 1446 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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