Recruiting at the high school level became increasingly difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic. Football games, showcases, and recruiting visits were severely limited or even cancelled for a period of time. As a result, many talented high school recruits were overlooked, including Florida running back Ja’Kobi Jackson.
Jackson, an unrated prospect out of Pensacola Catholic High School, held just four division one offers (Charlotte, UAB, South Alabama, and Western Kentucky) before landing at the JUCO level with Coahoma Community College in 2020.
“During that time, it was hard to go find ball players when you couldn’t have an opportunity to sit in someone’s living room. And he has a testimony. He’s been through a rough journey,” Florida running back coach Jabbar Juluke said on Jackson.
In three years with Coahoma CC, Jackson appeared in 20 games, rushing 276 times for 1390 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 14 catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game. Jackson joined Florida’s program in spring of 2023, but did not appear in a single game in his first season as a Gator.
“Coming in from junior college and going into the SEC, and getting a little bit of humble pie, having to redshirt, thinking that he was ready to play. But he was patient, he stayed steadfast to his craft, and he was learning,” Juluke said on Jackson.
Fast forward to 2024, Jackson plays a critical role in Florida’s offense, rushing for 509 yards on 5.4 yards per carry while scoring a team high seven rushing touchdowns.
“I think everybody’s journey is their journey. Cheese, he accepted it and he embraces it,” Juluke said on Jackson. “He’s proud to tell people he went to junior college and it helped him with his struggle. Because you get humbled in junior college when you don’t have no meals. You get to a place like this and he’s very appreciative of it. And he tries to remind the young guys, ‘Hey man, it ain’t sweet all the time, so you better make sure you’re taking full advantage of it and doing what you need to do’. So his experience has really helped him.”
Through seven practices of spring camp, the 5’11, 216 pound running back is in line to be one of Florida’s primary running backs in 2025. Jackson’s combination of size and open field speed makes him a threat every time he touches the ball.
“I think Jack Cheese has a little more in his tank, you know, he’s built himself up mentally and physically as a really productive football player in the SEC, and I’m excited about what he’s going to be able to do as the season progresses as well,” Juluke said on Jackson. “You know, we still have work to do, and now we have to work on how you handle success, right. Do I get complacent? Or do I get hungry? And right now we’re hungry, we’re starving. We want to get better and we have to make sure that we continue to do that. So Ja’Kobi is one of those guys I’m looking forward to seeing as well.”
With Montrell Johnson departing to the NFL, Jackson is now the veteran in the room. The redshirt senior is being challenged by the coaching staff to step up as a leader.
“He’s becoming more of a vocal leader. Excited about him doing so,” Juluke said. “I challenge him every day to lead the young people because he’s next up. He’s the elder spokesman in the room, so I’m looking forward to what he’s going to be able to do in that leadership role.”
Jackson is part of a deep running back room that consists of Jadan Baugh, KD Daniels, Treyaun Webb, and a trio of freshmen. Florida’s running back room has never been an issue under coach Juluke, who has quite the track record of producing effective running backs at the collegiate level.
“We’re going to practice hard, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to be fundamentally sound,” Juluke said. “We’re going to make sure we know our assignments, and we’re gonna give everything we have. Effort is not going to be an option. We have non-negotiables. When they don’t do what we supposed to do, then we have problems. So some things that I’m not bending on who we have in that room. Fortunately these young men are talented, so we’re going to continue to compete and work extremely hard, both on and off the football field.”
Nice work sir!!!
Go Gators!!!