Dan Jackson looks back on hard work that went into making interception happen

Heading into last Saturday’s game against South Carolina, Georgia walk-on safety Dan Jackson had experienced almost everything a college safety could hope to see. Over the past two seasons, Jackson has lined up all over the defense, making plenty of huge plays in big moments for the Bulldogs. The one thing he hadn’t been able to do: come down with an interception.

That changed when Jackson was able to go up and get a takeaway on Spencer Rattler’s deep throw to Gamecock tight end Jaheim Bell. It was the Bulldogs’ second of their three interceptions on the day, but it was extremely special for the walk-on safety and the entire Georgia defense.

“Obviously it was a big deal for me. It is my first one I am real proud of,” Jackson said. “First off, we got great pressure from our defensive line like we had been getting all game. We had them rattled. He (Spencer Rattler) made a rushed decision thanks to our defensive line. Once the ball was in the air, I work that every day, and I tried to high point the ball. Thankfully, I came down with it.”

After Jackson came down with the ball, the Georgia defense and sideline swarmed him, hitting him on the helmet and hyping him up for making the big play. While the play was certainly special to Jackson, Kirby Smart does not expect the success of one play to affect the mentality of Jackson or any of the walk-ons on Georgia’s roster, causing them to get satisfied or complacent.

“It validates it, but I don’t know if they listen to it,” Smart said. “We have been talking all of this week that growth requires patience. Some kids don’t really understand what that is. Growth definitely requires patience. If you don’t get it right the first time or the second time, it requires patience … Those guys epitomize it, Ladd (McConkey), Dan (Jackson), Stetson (Bennett), guys that grew. They were patient. It requires patience sometimes to get to where you want to go.”

“Max effort guys. They epitomize what the culture of this program is,” he continued. “You are tough. You are physical. You listen. You try hard. you are selfless. They are all those things. That includes some talent. They have talent. You have to have talent to be here. You would not be able to play. Talent is not the overriding factor with those two guys. Caring about the program is. They set the tone. They were out there today in 90-something degree heat, and I went over to both of them. We were getting our touches in and bumping up and saying that we need to go to work. They drive that part. Not just them, but so many others like them create a good bond among the guys to work hard.”

Jackson came onto the Bulldogs’ roster during the offseason before the 2019 season, the same time that Georgia defensive tackle Zion Logue joined the team. While it sometimes may be difficult to integrate walk-ons into an extremely deep and talented roster, Logue recalled the importance of the manner in which Jackson carried himself.

“It’s also getting respect from your peers,” Logue explained. “When you see guys like Dan Jackson who’s worked his tail off, he came in with me, worked his tail off from day one. He was a silent guy, just kept his head down, and worked. So when you see that, it’s kind of like, ‘Okay, I know I can depend on him and trust him.’”

With nine games left in the Bulldogs’ regular season, Jackson has plenty of things that he plans to improve upon. He knows that and has bought into Georgia’s emphasis on growth.

“This week I have tried to focus on two things. I want to be the best tackler I can be. I wrote down that I have to bring my feet and no bending at the waist, keep my head up,” Jackson said. “Secondly, knowing and being more aware of down and distance situations, more specifically third down. That is what I want to focus on.”

Jackson and Georgia take on Kent State Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and Golden Flashes is set for 12:00 p.m. ET, streaming on SEC Network+.