Jayden Jackson Makes History: First True Freshman Defensive Lineman to Start for Sooners Since 2001

By Jay Berry

History was made Saturday night in Norman, Oklahoma.

For the first time in over a decade, a true freshman started on the defensive line for the Sooners.

Jayden Jackson, from IMG Academy , became the first true freshman defensive lineman to start since Tommie Harris in 2001.

Harris went on to become a two-time All-American for the Sooners and a first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Jackson, who was named IMG’s 2023 Defensive MVP, was teammates at IMG with David Stone . Stone, also a freshman in Norman, is the Sooners’ first consensus 5-star defensive tackle recruit since Gerald McCoy in 2006.

Jackson finished with two tackles on the stat sheet but consistently disrupted the Temple guards, allowing his fellow defensive linemen and linebackers to make plays.

He demonstrated excellent agility with his lateral movement and ability to beat offensive linemen to the gap and clog the middle. He also used his hands effectively.

The defense had six sacks and nine tackles for loss in a 51-3 win over Temple, showcasing a strong rotation on the defensive line.

Last Wednesday, Jackson was named to the Shaun Alexander Award Watch List. The Shaun Alexander Award is given annually to the best freshman in college. The award began in 2018, with Trevor Lawrence as the first recipient.

When asked about his work ethic, Jackson told  Oklahoma Sooners SI that he gets that from his mom.

“Definitely my mom,” he told Oklahoma Sooners SI during a post-practice interview Monday. “I’ve been through the bottom of everything with her and everything she’s done. She’s sacrificed so, much to get me where I am. I’m so thankful for her — and my older brothers. They were there for me. They were my father figures. They were my dads that I didn’t have. So them being there, influencing me, it kind of shaped me into who I am; it made me who I am today.”

Jackson’s mom had this to say to Oklahoma Sooners SI about her son.

“Just an underdog, doing underdog things,” Jackson’s mom, Alberta Jackson, told Oklahoma Sooners SI. “I think he’s always been fighting since he was little.”

Todd Bates has built a formidable defensive line, and Jayden Jackson will be a big part of that unit. If the offensive line can make it through the injuries, this team has immense potential.

The Sooners are back in action next Saturday against Houston. The Palace on the Prairie is sure to be fired up.