Louisville football: Five must-have defensive recruits in 2021
By Jacob Lane
James Jackson – OLB/ATH
6’3, 200-pounds – Roanoke, VA
National ranking: n/a
Position ranking: 116
Here is an example of a player who is a fascinating recruit that is flying way under the radar.
James Jackson, a do-it-all athlete from North Cross High School in Roanoke, Virginia, is a name that it appears the staff has been high on despite being unranked by some recruiting services.
However, don’t let rankings deter you. Jackson’s offer list puts Louisville football in impressive company. So far, Jackson has offers from Stanford, Virginia, Army, Air Force, Columbia, Navy, Princeton, and Yale among others.
Any time it’s in the company of Ivy League schools and military institutions, it says a lot about the type of person that Louisville is courting off the field.
But what about on the field, where App State, West Virginia, and Wake Forest are also courting Jackson?
Given the region that Jackson plays in, its easy to gloss over his successes, but it’s tough to ignore his intangibles on tape. He is a versatile player who it appears rarely leaves the field, as he plays offense, defense, and special teams.
Jackson’s junior year tape shows him blowing up guys in kick-off coverage and breaking through to block punts.
He is skilled at wide receiver, where he shows solid straight line speed and excellent body control to haul in jump balls. He is a good pass-catcher with the blocking intangibles of a tight end or H-back at the next level.
However, where Jackson shows the most promise as at linebacker. He is an instinctual player who can line up all over the field, inside or outside the box. He is skilled enough to stay with his man in coverage, getting into his backpedal and breaking on the ball well.
Check out Jackson’s highlights here.
Jackson is aggressive as a pass rusher, often capable of getting around his man and chasing down the ball carrier and finishing the play effectively.
At 6’3,” 200-pounds, Jackson has the frame to add a lot of muscle and be a real threat as an OLB at the highest level.
Louisville appears to be right in the mix with the Cardinal and the Cavaliers for Jackson’s services.