McKinnley Jackson explains leaving Mississippi for Texas A&M

Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson has lived in College Station, Texas, coming on four years now. But even though he has made Texas his home, he was asked Monday at SEC Media Days about his decision to leave his home state of Mississippi to play college football in Texas.

“Honestly, I wanted to grow, expand my mind,” Jackson said. “I’ve been in Mississippi for 18 years, so I wanted something new, to see the world for more than what it is, because where I’m from it’s kind of small. I don’t want to tell you how it is where I’m from, but it’s kind of small- minded. You don’t see too much every day. You see the same things, same people. I could go home today, and I leave for a year, and the same thing is going on. So, you know, I wanted something new out of life, and I felt like Texas was where it’s at.”

Jackson attended Lucedale (Miss.) George County, where he was Mississippi’s Mr. Football 6A and won MVP honors of the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game. He was the No. 83 overall recruit, No. 10 defensive lineman and No. 1 recruit from the state of Mississippi in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He played in eight games last year with seven starts during his junior season. Jackson had 37 tackles on the year with seven tackles for loss. Over his first two campaigns with the Aggies, he started five games and played in 15 others with 27 tackles.

McKinnley Jackson was also named a Texas A&M team captain last year. After the season, he was named the Aggie Defense Leadership Award and the Defense MVP Award.

“I’ve been pushing myself to new levels,” Jackson said. “I’m just working on all the small details I feel I wasn’t great at last year. Also, pushing my guys. Like, you know, I can’t just worry about myself because it’s just not me out there. You know, it’s more than me. There’s 11 players out there. I have to worry about 11 more people. I’m one of the most selfless people I know. I don’t worry about myself at all because I know I’m willing to bring my all. I’m going to go 110% every day, but I have to make sure everybody else is on the same page.”