NC State DL D.J. Jackson to enter transfer portal
NC State reserve nose tackle D.J. Jackson announced Monday afternoon that he plans to enter the transfer portal. The redshirt sophomore defensive lineman has three years of eligibility remaining after missing his first couple of seasons with injuries.
He is the third Wolfpack defender to announce his intentions to transfer this week. Jackson appeared in 8 games this season, winning the backup nose tackle job behind junior Brandon Cleveland during fall camp. Standing 6-1, 272 pounds, the lineman recorded 9 total tackles and 0.5 sacks.
The nose tackle from Sumter, S.C., tore his ACL and his achillesduring his tenure with the Pack, battling back from those injuries to make an impact on the gridiron this fall.
“I can’t really explain it too well,” Jackson said when reflecting on his first appearance of the season against Western Carolina. “I was about to cry. It was pretty crazy. I never had that feeling. I go to every game my whole life [and] I’m working and in there to not doing it at all for a long period of time. When I got back out there and had the opportunity to do what I love, it just felt great. I can’t really explain it.”
Jackson recorded a career high 5 tackles and during the Wolfpack’s Oct. 12 loss to Syracuse this year. He also made 3 stops against Cal and 1 vs. Georgia Tech. After overcoming the injuries early in his career, he was likely going to play a key role in the defensive line rotation next year as well.
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“He’s been through a lot,” Doeren said earlier this fall. “It’s hard being hurt once, let alone three times. And he’s been through a lot mentally, emotionally, spiritually through this journey. … I’m looking forward to seeing him continue to get better.”
True freshman Justin Terrell will likely back up Cleveland in the bowl game and will have a chance to fill that role next fall as well.
Coming out of Sumter High, Jackson was the No. 128 defensive lineman in the 2022 class. He joins linebackers Wyatt Wright and Jayland Parker as the trio of defenders to transfer so far. The portal opens Dec. 9.
