Goal No. 4: IMPROVE. Every day… as a player, person and student.
#4 Joe Jackson
Redshirt Sophomore | 6-0 | 212 lbs. | Haines City, Florida
- Position: Running Back
- Previous College: None
- Projection: Co-Starter
- Status: On Scholarship
Joseph Jackson Jr. (b. Oct. 4, 2004) is an electric running back and WTC Fiber spokesman from Ridge Community High School in Davenport/Haines City, Florida, who is majoring in kinesiology. With DJ Giddens off to the National Football League, Jackson will ascend to the role of the primary running mate to Dylan Edwards.
Jackson played in two games in 2023, seeing time as a reserve running back against SEMO and on kickoff returns against NC
State. He had four carries against SEMO, including a long rush of 5 yards.
At this time last year, I predicted Jackson would contribute more on at least some occasions, given he had earned praise from coaches such as Van Malone after both the 2024 spring and fall camps:
Joe Jackson is a younger guy, and man, we’ve seen great potential in him, but now is an opportunity for Joe Jackson. There’s no more redshirting, now he’s going to get his opportunity. Those are kinds of excited guys I’ve seen, guys who know that they’re getting their opportunity, and it’s coming, and it’s right in front of them. They just want to make the most of the opportunities.
Joe… I’ve been impressed with what he’s done this fall camp, not only at running back, but what he’s done as a special teams player. He’s really developed, really improved over being just a little young kid running around. So, I’ve been impressed with him.
Well, those words proved pretty prophetic. Last season, Jackson saw action in 10 games, recording 227 rushing yards and a touchdown on 39 carries in addition to 63 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches.
He had a career-high 50 rushing yards in the Rate Bowl against Rutgers, a game in which he also set career highs in receptions (three) and receiving yards (37) in addition to his first career receiving touchdown.
Jackson nearly hit the 50-yard rushing mark with 48 yards in the season opener against UT Martin — a game that featured his career-long rush of 32 yards — while he had 47 yards against Cincinnati.
He scored his first career touchdown on a 4-yard run against Arizona State; saw time on 136 offensive snaps during the season, including a career-high 43 plays in the Rate Bowl; and picked up Academic All-Big 12 honors.
Jackson prepped under head coach Carl White at Ridge Community, where he was regarded as the 514th-best overall prospect in the Class of 2023 by On3 Consensus.
He was rated the 14th-best all-purpose running back prospect in the nation by Rivals, while ESPN ranked him the 67th-best overall prospect in the state of Florida.
Jackson also was rated No. 4 on The Ledger’s Super 16 list prior to the 2022 season.
He totaled 1,143 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games during his senior season for the Bolts thanks in part to a 326-yard, six-touchdown effort as he broke the school record for single-game rushing yardage.
Jackson also rushed for 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns in addition to catching 15 passes for 342 yards and five scores as a junior.
He picked K-State over offers from Alcorn State, Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Bethune-Cookman, Bryant, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Grambling State, Iowa State, Louisville, Marshall, Middle Tennessee State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Temple, Tulane, USF, Utah, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Western Kentucky, as well as strong recruiting interest from Florida State, Kentucky and UCF.
Jackson’s primary recruiters were former wide receivers coach Thad Ward and his position coach, Brian Anderson. He brings toughness, agility and speed to the position.
Earlier this month, Anderson assessed in a press conference that Jackson is ready to fill Gidden’s large shoes:
Joe has done a really good job. He was fortunate to be with DJ and see how he handled his business on and off the field. He’s taken that to another level, also. It’s still a learning process. I know everybody wants it right now, but it’s a process, and Joe has done a really good job with that.
