Written by Rubin E. Grant
Despite being on two state championship teams as a player, Homewood soccer coach Julian Kirsch doesn't think he would put himself in the same class as Patriots' current senior Will Jackson (pictured). There wasn't.
“I wish I was half as good as Will J.,” said Kirsch, who played on Homewood's men's title teams in 2005 and 2006. “He has a level of talent that I think you only see a few times in the program. Everything seems so natural to him. He can do incredible things with the ball.
“This season he has played more of a midfielder role so he hasn't scored as many goals, but that doesn't mean his influence has diminished.”
Jackson made a huge impact in Homewood's first-round Class 6A playoff game last Friday. He scored three goals, his first hat trick of the season, and also had an assist as the Patriots defeated Pell City, 10-0.
Homewood (18-2-3) was scheduled to play Mountain Brook (21-4-1) in the second round Tuesday night.
Jackson led the Patriots in goals as a sophomore and junior. This spring, he had 20 goals and 12 assists.
Jackson started playing soccer soon after learning how to walk. His father, Todd Jackson, introduced him to the sport. Although Todd Jackson played at Furman University, Will Jackson said his father did not force him to become a football player.
“I played a few different sports,” he said. “I played basketball for five or six years, but I fell in love with soccer in my own way.
“What I love about this sport is that it's one of the few sports where you can always use just your feet. I also feel that soccer is an art and that you express yourself on the field. ”
Jackson's father helped him develop as a player.
“My dad was with me mentally and technically, playing soccer with me, comforting me, just being a dad really helped me,” he said.
Jackson is in his third year with the Patriots' varsity team. He did not play on the 2021 state championship team during his freshman year as he was part of Nashville's MLS Next Youth Soccer program.
“They gave me a chance to play there for about a year,” Jackson said.
Homewood has benefited from the experience gained playing in the MLS Next program.
“It was the hunger and energy that he brought after he got out of prison,” Kirsch said. “He's worked hard to get to his level. His talent can only take you so far. You need that drive and determination. That's why he's at this level.” This is the reason why we have achieved so much success.”
Jackson has aspirations to play professionally.
“That's great,” he said. “I'm going to see where soccer takes me.”
Jackson headed to Wake Forest to play college, choosing the Demon Deacons over North Carolina. He is the first player from the Homewood boys program to sign with an Atlantic Coast Conference school. Wake he chose Forest after he visited the campus.
“The community there is great, they have a beautiful campus, the soccer team has a very welcoming culture and I love that, and you get to talk to the coaches,” he said.
As his high school career began to wind down, Jackson became more introspective.
“It's been an amazing journey,” he said. “I hate having to leave high school. I am grateful to the Homewood community and Homewood High School.”
A day after the Patriots beat Pell City in the first round of the playoffs, Jackson said he wanted to leave as state champions.
“I think if you do your best, you can beat anyone,” he said. “But everyone on the team needs to step up and be on the same page with the same priorities to perform at their best.”
