'I just want to win': Sam Jackson V goes in-depth on his decision to transfer to Auburn, relationship with Payton Thorne and more

This story was updated on December 29 with new quotes from head coach Hugh Freeze on transfer signee Sam Jackson. Those quotes are included in the story below.

After stops at TCU and Cal playing quarterback, the journey of Sam Jackson V will continue on at Auburn. However, Jackson won’t be playing quarterback.

The school announced the signing of Jackson as a wide receiver on Wednesday following his entry into the NCAA transfer portal on December 11. Due to recent court rulings opening the door, multi-time transfers are possible now, and Jackson is more than happy to walk on through.

Jackson will arrive to Auburn on January 7 and have two years of eligibility remaining with plans to graduate within the next year.

The entire process that led Jackson to Auburn happened quickly.

Jackson, currently 5’11 and 190 pounds, speaks with current Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne often. It makes sense, the two have been best friends since high school, playing basketball and football together at Naperville Central (Ill.) High School.

(And on unique connections, Jackson is also cousins with former Michigan State receiver and current Green Bay Packers rookie Jayden Reed. Reed caught passes from Thorne at Michigan State, was a second-round pick in the NFL Draft, and also hails from Naperville, Ill. Reed has six touchdowns so far this season.)

When Jackson told Thorne recently about his intentions to enter the portal, and furthermore his intentions to switch positions to wide receiver, Thorne went to work.

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Auburn’s QB1 pitched Jackson’s talents and personality to Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and wide receivers coach Marcus Davis. There was real intrigue. The Auburn coaches then studied Jackson’s film and saw potential, like watching film of Jackson catch 50 passes for 847 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore in high school.

What followed were quick decisions by Auburn to extend an opportunity to Jackson to join the football program. With little hesitation, Jackson committed and signed on the same day.

“It happened so fast. It happened in the snap of a finger,” Jackson told Auburn Live.

“Once I hit the portal, I talked to them. They made a bowl game and were still recruiting, but I talked to Coach Freeze and Coach Davis, for sure. (Freeze) talked about my playmaking ability. Being able to move me around. I played quarterback, so I know what the quarterback is looking for and what the defense is trying to take away from us. I know what we’re trying to gain.

“I was talking to (Freeze) and he was telling me, ‘I know you are pretty intelligent because you played the position at a high level.’ He’s going to move me around, putting me in the backfield, moving me in the slot, trying to find a fit for me. The most important thing for me is to show everything that I can do so it’ll be easier for them to find schemes for me.”

Freeze talked about the addition of Jackson during a Friday press conference one day before the Music City Bowl.

“I got to witness Sam live this year and he initially went in and was a two-time transfer, so I didn’t think that’s something we could do. Then obviously the new legislation came down a few days ago. It’s a risk probably, but I think he’s one heck of an athlete,” Freeze said.

“I watched all his high school receiving stuff and he obviously caught balls from Payton Thorne, there’s some chemistry there. He has the possibility — as you watch even the NFL now, they are starting to do more things with these receivers coming back into the backfield and doing different things, and he gives me a lot of flexibility in that regard to be able to do that. An athlete like that gives us some flexibility.”

When Thorne left for Michigan State, Jackson took over the quarterbacking duties his final two seasons in high school. He became a 4-star prospect, signing with TCU in 2021 before later moving on to Cal in 2023.

After barely playing in two seasons at TCU, Jackson passed for 556 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions with Cal this season, splitting time with Ben Finley. But after mixed results from Jackson and Finley, Cal looked to the future and turned over the QB1 reigns to redshirt freshman Fernando Mendoza.

Following the season, Jackson had a decision to make.

With aspirations that include playing in the NFL, does he continue down his past and current path at quarterback, or does he forge a new path by transitioning back to the familiar position of wide receiver in hopes of finding his name on a NFL roster one day?

“My ultimate goal is to play in the NFL and make a name for myself and eventually get that gold jacket. The way my first three years went, I didn’t think the progress I made, if I stayed at the quarterback position, it would allow me to fulfill my dreams,” Jackson said.

“I went back to my old ways. My dad and I always talked about having that secondary option of playing a different position because I was gifted with the ability to do that. Having played receiver in high school, I know I can play receiver at the college level, so I made a phone call to Payton.”

It was his close relationship with Thorne that was the primary catalyst for Jackson landing at Auburn.

“To be honest, he’s my best friend, I wasn’t calling to make a connection. I was just calling my best friend to tell him what’s going on,” Jackson said. “Ever since I’ve known Payton, we’ve always been locked in. Behind the scenes, Payton and I were throwing every single day, damn near like. Even days when we didn’t have school, we were up early in the morning and throwing. It’s foggy as hell and we’re still grinding.

“I stayed at Payton’s house after every game, I never missed a Friday. We’ve been best friends ever since then. I was telling Payton about my decision. I told him I was thinking about switching positions and that would be awesome for me to go play with him again. I feel like my relationship with Payton would be the best option for me. I know how hard he works and how much of a student of the game he is. I know that if I come in and I’m with Payton, he’s going to elevate my game and I’ll elevate his.”

On Jackson’s overall value-add to the Auburn program

Jackson was a standout wide receiver at Naperville Central as a sophomore (as mentioned above), and did it while training more so to be the quarterback when Thorne left rather than training to be an elite receiver in the future. Jackson’s high school coach once said he could windmill dunk a basketball and throw a football 70 yards, “that’s how athletically gifted Sam Jackson is.”

“My sophomore year, I didn’t even train to be a receiver,” he said. “The only thing I did was run routes, I wasn’t training to play receiver. The next year, I knew I was going to be the starting quarterback. Friday was game, Saturday was watch film and run, then Sunday I was still training with my quarterback training. I never even trained to be a receiver.”

Despite the time away from the position, Jackson is confident he can help the Tigers’ offense and compete in the most athletic conference in college football.

“I think that’s damn near a dream for everybody. Going to the SEC and playing football is totally different. The SEC is the closest thing to the NFL. I honestly can’t wait to put myself on the map and put this offense on the map,” he said.

“I think I have some unique abilities. I know it will be a lot of work to put in, but that’s nothing I ever ran from. I’ve been putting in work my whole life. I just want to win, that’s my main thing. I know if I’m selfless and I’m a team player, the things that are meant for me will come for me. If I put the work in, everything will go right for me. All that will fall into place.

“I feel like with my situation, this last year and how things played out with the ruling, I think it’s damn-near destined for me to be where I’m at right now, playing with my best friend and playing at a program like this. Auburn is on the road to the playoffs. I think I can be a special edition to that for sure.”

Jackson believes his experience playing quarterback, along with his relationship with Thorne, will provide a successful dynamic at Auburn.

“I bring a lot of things to the table. I’m not looking to be that selfish guy that wants all the targets or wants the ball every time we pass it. I’m looking to come help everybody else out, too,” he said. “I want to elevate Payton’s game, help the receivers — the connection Payton and I will have will be very special.

“I know Payton as a person and Payton as a player. I know both of those aspects very well. When we’re working and watching film, I know exactly what he wants. I know how he’s seeing the game because Payton taught me the game. And my cousin (Reed), he was teaching me things, too. I think me playing quarterback and me playing receiver was great for me.”

Jackson will join a revamped Auburn receiver room that will include at least four true freshmen, including two 5-stars in Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson, along with Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis, and returners Caleb Burton, Camden Brown and Jay Fair.

“I think that will be one of the easier parts. That relationship I have with Payton, that gives me the credibility to be a leader in those rooms,” Jackson said. “I know what he wants even if he doesn’t tell me. I know those kids, my teammates, will definitely take some advice from me and I’ll learn from them. They are going to teach me some things and I’ll be able to teach them some things.

“I really can’t wait, I’m at a loss for words. I can’t wait, this is almost like it hasn’t hit me yet. I feel like once I get down here, that’s when it’ll be like, I’m really at Auburn.”