JUST IN: 4-star DL Kendall Jackson staying put in Gainesville, commits to Florida Gators
For the second year in a row, the Gators have landed a commitment from a four-star prospect at Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz.
This time, it’s 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive lineman Kendall Jackson, who chose Florida over additional finalists Miami and Kentucky. Plenty of additional offers are on the table as well, including ones from Texas, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Louisville and Maryland.
However, Jackson’s heart is with the hometown Gators and now he is 100 percent committed.
According to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Jackson is the 33rd-ranked defensive lineman and 395th-ranked prospect overall.
With the Gators, however, the 2024 prospect will be playing on the edge at JACK. That is his primary role at Buchholz as well.
“The coaching staff is probably one of the main reasons; the relationships I have with them and the way they respect me and my family. That’s a big part of why I chose to be a Gator,” Jackson told GO’s Keith Niebuhr.
Florida is the home away from home for Jackson
Another major advantage for the Gators is Jackson’s family connections to the school.
His mother, aunt and late uncle Aubrey Hill, a former captain and wide receiver under Steve Spurrier, all attended Florida. There is plenty of familiarity and comfort just up the street at the Swamp.
However, Jackson was not pressured into choosing the Gators in any way. It was his life-changing decision and his only. That is something he will always be extremely thankful for.
“That was super important,” said Jackson. “My family was making I got to experience all my options before I decided to settle down and choose Florida.”
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Don’t get it twisted though, as Jackson’s mother, Keri, was brimming with joy when learning of her son’s decision to attend her alma mater.
“She was super excited the first time I told her,” said Jackson. “She was never going to push me to do anything I didn’t want to do. That’s why I really love my mom.”
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Log another victory for the Recruiting Prediction Machine
Prior to Jackson’s announcement, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine favored the Gators with odds north of 95 percent. Niebuhr and I submitted picks for the Gators last summer after Jackson landed a camp offer.
Anything is possible in recruiting, but Jackson had been in each “trending up” story for nearly a year. This recruitment was closer than what many think though. The Hurricanes and Wildcats definitely gave the Jackson family something to think about, but UF checked too many boxes.
With Kendall Jackson on board, the Gators now hold commitments from 19 prospects in the 2024 class. Fourteen of them have a ranking with at least four stars as well, with one being Jackson.
Only Georgia and Ohio State, respectively, are ahead of UF in the 2024 Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings.
During the 2022 season, Jackson recorded 65 tackles (37 solo), 12.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
