Oregon checked every box for LB Devon Jackson

It came down to Arizona State, Miami, and Oregon for Omaha (Neb.) Burke linebacker Devon Jackson.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior had the longest relationship with the Sun Devils, he loved the history with the Hurricanes, but even though the Ducks came in a little later than those two, he found his future home in Eugene.

“Oregon just came in and offered me August 14, so some people probably think I am crazy committing to them,” Jackson said. “Arizona State offered me early, and I really know the coaches there, and I liked Miami a lot, but Oregon has it all.

“Oregon checked every box for me. It is the right school for me.”

The official visit to Oregon sealed the deal with Devon Jackson

Heading into the visit, Miami was third, and it was very close at the top between Arizona State and Oregon.

Jackson broke it down and said it was 40-40-20 between the three schools. That is how close it was between the Sun Devils and the Ducks.

The visit to Eugene changed it to 100-percent Oregon.

“I was leaning towards Arizona State not too long ago, but Oregon came in, they recruited me hard, and after the visit, I knew,” Jackson said. “It was really during the visit that I made my decision.

“Me and my parents were in coach Mario Cristobal’s office Sunday morning and that is when I told him about my commitment. As soon as I told him, he got excited, the other coaches came running in to give us hugs, and it was so exciting.

“My parents loved the visit, I loved the visit, and there was no reason for me to wait.”

Jackson raved about his time on the Oregon campus. He felt at home and the school had everything he was looking for.

“I loved it all. Oregon has everything. It is a top five football team in the country, the school has a great Sports Business Program, I can make strong connections there for life after football, and the atmosphere was outstanding.

“From the minute I got there, I loved the feel, I loved the vibe, and I was very welcomed.

“The atmosphere was amazing, the people are great, and Oregon has everything I want in a school.”

Jackson sees an opportunity to play early for the Ducks

One thing that made Oregon that much more appealing is their linebacker room. They need inside linebackers, and linebackers coach Ken Wilson made Jackson a priority a couple of months ago.

Jackson knows about guys like Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, two highly-ranked linebackers the Ducks signed the 2020 cycle, but he sees an opportunity.

“I have a chance to play early at Oregon,” Jackson said. “They need players at my position, they are battling injuries now, and coach Wilson said I could have seen this field this season for them. That is how bad they need inside linebackers.

“I sat in on the linebackers’ meeting, so I saw the numbers, I saw the depth, and I am excited about the opportunity I have there.”

Coach Wilson is excited about Jackson too. The two hit it off right away, and they will get to work together in January.

“I am an early graduate, so I will get to Oregon in January, and I am excited about it. Coach Wilson really started recruiting me about a month before Oregon offered, and I like him a lot.

“We have talked a lot, he has gotten to know me, and I think he is a great coach. I get to play for a great linebackers coach, and be part of one of the top teams in the country.”

Jackson happy to have the recruiting process behind him

The Nebraska native has great bloodlines. His father played football at Illinois and his mother was a track star for the Illini. The new Oregon commit had great support from his parents, and they were they to help when he needed it, but he is relieved to have this process over with.

“It was a little stressful for sure,” Jackson said. “I started getting offers in October of 2019. Nebraska was first October 5. “I added Illinois later that month, Iowa State in December.

“Michigan came in with an offer in January 2020, and that is when things really took off. We went through COVID-19 and I think that affected my recruitment some, but I am thankful for how it all played out.

“I am so happy about being committing to Oregon now. I got to take my official visits, I got to see some great schools, and I know I picked the best one for me.

“My coach told me this week I seem more relaxed, so maybe recruiting was weighing on me more than I thought. I know it is over now though, and I am going to Oregon.”