FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ja'Quinden Jackson has made no secret of what he hopes to accomplish in his first season with the University of Arkansas football program later this fall.
“It’s been a long journey, but I hope this is my last year of college football,” Jackson said. “I pray to God that it will happen. We won't be able to have fall camp anymore.”
This may sound selfish, but it sounded more like an expression of Jackson's hunger. The running back is in his fifth year of college football, coming to the Razorbacks after stints at Texas and Utah. Although he has two seasons of eligibility remaining, Jackson clearly believes he's ready for a big 2024 that could lead to the NFL.
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And such success would be a huge boost for Arkansas' offense. The Hogs were never able to find stability at running back in 2023. The poor performance of the offensive line contributed, but Rocket Sanders and AJ Green both had disappointing seasons that led to their transfers from the program.
Jackson brings new energy.
“(The transfers) are good kids who wanted a family soccer team. They wanted that atmosphere,” head coach Sam Pittman said. (Jackson) is the same way.”
Jackson led Utah in carries (161), rushing yards (797) and rushing touchdowns (4) last season while battling multiple injuries. A sprain in his lower ankle caused his tendon to separate from the bone, Jackson said.
“When I entered the portal, there were a lot of jokes about, 'Oh, he's got paper ankles' and all that,” he said.
“It was funny. I laughed. But people look at it from the outside and talk about it. They're like, what did I have to go through to get 700 yards and score a touchdown last season?” I don't really know what I had to do. It was a struggle. “I'm battling this injury every week.'' ”
Jackson is now healthy and showed why he was the No. 2 overall freshman out of Texas in the Class of 2020 this spring.
He blends elite speed with a low pad level, meaning he can be a big play threat and a nuisance for opposing teams in short yardage situations. In a scrimmage just before spring break, Jackson surprised his coaches with three consecutive runs on first-and-goal that led to touchdowns, even though the offensive line didn't open any major holes for the running backs.
Even with Sanders and Green gone, the running back room is full. Rashod Dubinion and Dominic Johnson gained meaningful experience, and Isaiah Augustabu burst onto the scene at the end of 2023. Braylen Russell was one of the best players in the freshman class.
But so far this spring, Jackson feels like a starter. He has gotten the most reps with the first team and has already formed a bond with fellow Texan Taylen Green.
Pittman didn't rule out the possibility of other running backs moving up the strength chart and becoming the starters, but in Jackson's own mind, he's ready to carry that burden in 2024.
