For decades Iowa football has set the gold standard for identifying unheralded, overlooked recruits and turning them into top notch players by the time they leave the University of Iowa. Parker Hesse, Jake Gervase, and Kristian Welch all have three things in common. They were all standout stars for the Hawkeyes. They all went on to the NFL after Iowa. And they all started out as walk-ons at Iowa.
Braeden Jackson has the potential to eventually join this club. On Saturday, this little-known running
back seemingly appeared from nowhere and exploded for 125 yards rushing, 24 yards receiving, and two touchdowns. Braeden is also a walk-on.
But the story gets a lot deeper than just last Saturday. It was decades in the making.
Our story begins twenty-seven years ago, when an unheralded, unrecruited, and completely overlooked 160-pound running back from Arlington, Texas, packed his bags for Cedar Rapids, entirely ignored by every Division I football program in America. That kid was Fred Jackson, who would go on to rewrite the record books at Division III Coe College.
Jackson was a two-time Iowa Conference MVP (2002, 2003) and a seven-time All-American across football and track. He holds the Coe school record for kick return touchdowns and the single-game records for both kick and punt return yards. He graduated as Coe’s third all-time leading rusher with 4,054 yards and 47 touchdowns. In track, he still holds the school records in the outdoor 4x100m relay and indoor 4x200m relay.
Fred’s entry into professional football required the ultimate scenic route. He played two seasons in minor-league arena football for the Sioux City Bandits (2004–2005) making $200 a week and working a day job. He followed that with a season in NFL Europe playing for the Rhein Fire in 2006.
His “recruitment” to the NFL finally came at age 24. Coe College alumnus and Buffalo Bills General Manager Marv Levy remembered Jackson’s college tape and extended a humble training camp invitation in 2006. In 2009, Jackson became the first player in NFL history to compile over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 kickoff return yards in a single season. He spent nine seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Buffalo Bills, where he ranks as the franchise’s third all-time leading rusher behind only Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson.
Today, Fred resides in Ankeny, Iowa, and lives next door to his twin brother and former Coe teammate, Patrick. He is heavily involved in youth athletic development. He runs the Fred Jackson Youth Football Camp at the DMACC campus in Ankeny and actively coaches youth sports.
As you’ve probably guessed by now, Fred Jackson is Braeden Jackson’s father.
Just like Fred, Braeden was heavily overlooked despite massive senior-year production at Ankeny Centennial High School where he had a school-record 1,964 all-purpose yards with 27 touchdowns as a senior, including six in a single game. And also just like Fred, Braeden was a track star. As a senior in high school, he earned the Sprinter of the Year Award and was a Mr. Iowa Track recipient, and a four-time state track champion. Braeden is the school record holder in 200-meters, and state record holder in 4×100 relay and 4×200 relay.
Facing a complete lack of D1 scholarship offers, Braeden’s only real choices were a local JUCO or betting on himself as a preferred walk-on at the University of Iowa. Ironically, the door to Iowa was opened because his father Fred had a close connection with Hawkeyes’ associate head coach Seth Wallace, who was Fred’s old teammate back during those unrecruited days at Coe College.
For Saturday’s game against Michigan, Braeden is listed as the starting specialist for kickoff returns. He won’t just step onto the field, he’ll step directly into his father’s oversized footprints.
By the way, there’s another former walk-on who is well known for his ability to return kickoffs and punts by the name of Kaden Wetjen who is now wearing the black & gold with the Steelers.
Welcome to the Hawkeye family, Braeden. You’re going to fit in just fine here.
