One of the more intriguing off-season additions to The Dawgs is the towering Jahzare Jackson, a 340-pound offensive tackle who is just a whisker under 7 feet tall.
Yes, you read that right. Jackson is 6-11 and 340 pounds (at last count, but I imagine his meal plan has already been shifted).
If he sounds like he is a stronger fit for basketball, you’re quite astute. Jackson devoted last year to playing semi-pro basketball for a team called, ‘Reaper’ for Overtime Elite.
According to 24-7 Sports, he devoted 2023-24 playing on the Overtime Elite circuit with the City Reapers where he averaged a workman-like 12 points per game and just shy of 8 rebounds. He also has experience on the AAU circuit (with no less than of a teammate than the NBA’s luckiest son Bronny James).
From his basketball highlights, you can see lots of athleticism. He is very fluid for his size when historically those in that height range tend to be stiff.
Can Jackson make the switch from basketball to football? Possibly. In a day of coveted kickers from New South Wales and Rugby players occasionally making a mark in the NFL, anything is possible. Coaches have said Jackson has potential and the go-to phrase, “great upside.”
This will be interesting to watch as it pans out. Sources said other schools were in the pursuit of him as well. If any place can make it work, it’s Athens.
Of course, it gets me wondering about what other positions he could play. Defensive End perhaps? Imagine being a quarterback scrambling on third and long and trying to peer over the outstretched arms of a 6-11 behemoth rushing at you.
I would like to see him line up at Tight End. Yes, we’re loaded at the position and perhaps it is my inner 12-year-old surfacing, but how fun would that be? If nothing else, trot him out as a decoy on a few plays.
Hey, I’m not saying any of these are good ideas – in Kirby we trust. Just growing up in the Champ Bailey and Herschel Walker eras, I tend to love our athletes who play multiple positions and various sports.
One thing is for certain. At some point, he will require a nickname. I’ll wait until after I see him in action to drop a few ideas, but with that unique skillset just calling him by his last name seems a disservice.
If you hear of any other news with those close to the program, ping me an email or leave a comment.
Jahzere “Fear” Jackson? I’d like to see him at DL on the inside. Hard to move, hands up is a nightmare to throw over.
In the video he did not look like he weighed 340lbs. He looked thin.
I like his upside. It will take a year of hard work, but you cannot teach speed and size, he was born with that.
Work hard young man and it will pay off.
GO DAWGS
Like you, I wonder if OL is his best slot, but also like you, I trust Kirby to find the best place for him. I did an article somewhere that suggested that besides overall size his basketball footwork will help him in football. Also, 340 looks a lot thinner when you’re 6′ 11″. I bet he can handle 20-25 pounds of muscle and not lose a step.
How handy will a seven foot guy be blocking field goals? That was my first thought.
I was thinking the same thing on the FG block team.
When we get a former basketball player who has the quickness of another former BB player in Broderick Jones but is 6 inches taller with longer arms why would we want to try him anywhere other than offensive tackle? Ray Goff made that mistake by plaing Bernard Williams as an interior defensive lineman before his offensive coordinator prevailed.
goal line tackle eligible options just got pornagraphic that even the red light district in amsterdam blushed
as far as nicknames, I’d probably call him “Sir”