His mom wore a Kentucky shirt to try and throw everyone off. It worked on some people, but Ja’Keem Jackson was steadfast in his decision. The Osceola cornerback was a heavy lean toward the University of Florida and stuck to his choice, picking the Gators over offers from the past two national championship teams Alabama and Georgia.
“It was really hard, but I just felt like Georgia and Alabama, they weren’t really a good fit for me,” Jackson said, “and I felt like Florida really was.”
Of course it helped having Gainesville just two hours up the Florida Turnpike and I-75 from Kissimmee.
“It’s a big part. I love when my parents are watching me,” Jackson said.
Jackson, a converted wide receiver who played four games at corner last season and ended up with 3 interceptions, is looking forward to the challenge at the collegiate level.
“It’s not really that difficult because I’m a former receiver, so when I line up in front of a receiver I know what they do,” he said.
As a receiver, Jackson caught 36 balls and scored 4 touchdowns last season. He led the team in catches and in yards with 548, an impressive number considering that Osceola used to be a run-oriented offense.
Florida cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond was instrumental in Jackson’s recruiting, and the Kowboys two-way star was convinced UF was the place to be. Raymond, a former defensive back himelf at LSU and in the NFL, is in his first year with the Gators after spending 2012-21 coaching the position in Baton Rouge.
“The coaches there, they showed me mad love almost everyday,” Jackson said. “Especially Coach Raymond. He hit me up everyday. He hit my parents up almost everyday.
“He’s also got a good resume of producing good DBs like [LSU’s] Derek Stingley, Tre’Davious White, Patrick Peterson and all them good cats to the NFL. He really believes in development, like he always tells me I have a good chance.”
Also committing Thursday were two teammates of Jackson’s: Super60 No. 4-ranked defensive tackle John Walker chose UCF and and No. 5 defensive end Derrick LeBlanc picked Oklahoma.
Earlier this summer, 15th-ranked cornerback Bo Mascoe committed to Rutgers.
