The Tennessee Titans are no strangers to finding expertise in their personal yard. They only experienced to glimpse 180 miles to the east for sixth-spherical pick and defensive again, Theo Jackson.
The Tennessee Volunteers defensive back performed significant university ball at Overton High University in The Songs Town. He was a a few-star recruit with other features, including from LSU and Louisville, but chose to continue being in-state and played in 11 online games as a true freshman, getting to be a reliable backup and contributor on particular groups.
“I’m not likely to lie to you: I’m going as a result of so lots of thoughts ideal now,” Jackson explained to reporters just after currently being drafted by the Titans. “But it’s the ideal sensation. To develop up in Nashville, go to university at Tennessee and then appear back home for pro ball. I can’t even consider of the terms to even say right now. I’m just so excited and I’m so keen to get to work.”
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound defensive again labored his way into a setting up job for the Vols in 2019, ending fourth on the crew with 53 tackles through the time.
With a great mix of measurement and speed, Jackson was utilized in a lot of different approaches in Knoxville, and that flexibility is a thing the Titans had been undoubtedly fascinated in when they drafted him at No. 204 total.
“They [the Titans] cherished my versatility,” he mentioned. “I can engage in security, perform the dime, or enjoy some slot, but it’s seriously how they want to location me at.”
As a fifth-yr senior, Jackson observed his biggest uptick in generation from the preceding year.
He registered 78 complete tackles, including 9 tackles for reduction, and a occupation-ideal 11 passes defended. Jackson also tallied an interception in his remaining game at Neyland Stadium, returning it 55 yards for a rating on just the fifth participate in from scrimmage.
The leader of the Vols’ defensive secondary, he was chosen by the SEC coaches to the All-SEC Second-Workforce.
Jackson’s closing 12 months on campus was Josh Heupel’s very first as head coach in Knoxville. Jackson credits the coaching staff’s defensive scheme modify for taking part in a function in his breakout marketing campaign.
“I consider it was just the scheme modify. It authorized me to be more free, and then our playbook was a tiny bit less complicated, so I could emphasis on what get in touch with I experienced to make and I can focus on what the offense could be undertaking,” Jackson defined. “I watched a lot of movie, so when I guessed, I guessed proper most of the time.”
Going from Overton Significant University, to the University of Tennessee, to the NFL, it was hard for Jackson to imagine what the end solution seemed like. At very first, he concentrated on taking part in collegiate ball prior to shifting his focus to which crew could possibly pick him in the 2022 NFL draft.
Most little ones aspiration of actively playing for their most loved workforce expanding up, and which is particularly how it is performed out for Jackson.
“I was envisioning myself participating in with the Titans. Just possessing that vision occur true…I even now cannot even place alongside one another the phrases of what I’m experience about it,” Jackson mentioned.
The most recent Titans defensive back will most likely have an prospect to carve out a role on special teams this season, as properly as a backup position in the secondary.
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