Savion Jackson out for the season with knee injury
NC State junior defensive lineman Savion Jackson will miss the rest of the 2022 season following a knee injury that required surgery, head coach Dave Doeren told the media during a Monday afternoon press conference. This is Jackson’s second-consecutive season cut short due injury.
His injury occurred during the week-7 loss to Syracuse. The defensive lineman’s season was off to a solid start as one of the upperclassman leaders on the defense, making 15 total tackles, including 3 for loss, over 7 games. Jackson was a constant presence on the line and helped disrupt plenty of plays in the backfield.
“Savion is out for the year,” Doeren said. “Unfortunately, a knee injury that required surgery. He’ll be back healthy, but it was a season ending deal. It happened up at Syracuse.”
Redshirt-sophomore lineman C.J. Clark now steps into a starting role with the Wolfpack. Clark started 3 games at nose tackle in 2021 and has played plenty of snaps this season as a productive member of the defensive line rotation this fall. Through 8 games, Clark has 9 total tackles and 2 sacks.
“It’s unfortunate for Savion, but to have someone like C.J. that’s been rotating and playing, and obviously Travali [Price] takes on more now,” Doeren said. “It’d be different if you didn’t have someone that’s a returning starter, probably, as far as how you feel as a staff.”
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Price, a redshirt-freshman defensive end, has appeared in all 8 games this fall, making 8 total tackles, 1 for loss, and recording half a sack. The Wolfpack’s defensive line depth will help the team adjust in the final 4 games of the regular season, but Jackson’s absence will be notable.
“The rotation, is where it really hurts you,” Doeren said. “When you’re rotating Savion and C.J., it’s a little different. So it puts a little bit more on those guys over the course of four games, probably 10 reps more apiece than they may have been playing, but I know C.J. is excited about his opportunity and Travail and the guys that will get more.”
Prior to the season, head coach Dave Doeren recognized Jackson’s accomplishments as a member of the Pack with the prestigious No. 9 jersey— the number last worn by All-American and NC State legend Bradley Chubb. The jersey has a meaningful history, with former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Mario Williams also wearing that number.
Doeren explained why Jackson earned that honor this summer.
“Savion has earned the opportunity to wear this honored number with his play on the field and his hard work off the field,” Doeren said in a press release earlier this summer. “He understands the standards that come with wearing that number and is committed to upholding them.”
