Waiver Denied: Florida State DL Darrell Jackson can't play in 2023
The Florida State football team announced some huge news Tuesday, just a few days into the Seminoles’ 2023 preseason camp.
Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, who started his college career at Maryland and played last season at Miami before transferring to FSU, has been denied a waiver request from the NCAA to compete for the Seminoles this fall.
The basis of Jackson’s waiver request was his desire to be closer to his mother, Lisa Jackson, who is dealing with health issues. She lives in Quincy, Fla., which is just outside of Tallahassee and where he played high school football.
“It was hurtful because I know what I came home for,” Jackson told the media after Tuesday practice. “I came home for my mom. So me, I’m just trying to get through it and be there for my mom. She thinks it’s her fault but it’s not. “
Because he has transferred once already and is still an undergraduate student, Jackson had to petition the NCAA for a waiver to play immediately at Florida State. That request was denied, head coach Mike Norvell announced Tuesday.
“I’m extremely disappointed for that young man,” Norvell said. “Just the journey and the reason why he’s here, just sad that he’s going to miss games.”
Jackson, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 326 pounds, recorded 27 tackles, three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss this past season for the Hurricanes.
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Though he wasn’t yet eligible for competition, Jackson was allowed to practice with Florida State’s defense this spring, and he was one of the standouts on what is expected to be a stout defensive line.
“The thing that’s been incredible about it, I think this was our third practice, and just watching Darrell work,” Norvell said. “Probably the very next day after we told him, had his best practice since he’s been here.”
“I don’t know if they are trying to prove a point or what,” Jackson stated Tuesday, “I’ve got to make the team better. Everything’s about the team, so I’m just doing whatever I can do to help the team out … keep coming out to practice, giving it my all. I keep a smile on my face. I’m good.
Even without Jackson, the Seminoles feature a talented defensive tackle group, including returning starter Fabien Lovett, high-profile transfer Braden Fiske (Western Michigan), redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer, experienced veterans Dennis Briggs Jr. and Malcolm Ray, and others.
Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.
