Jayden Jackson doesn’t enjoy getting on social media leading up to a game.
Heading into the Sooners' 6 p.m. season opener against Temple on Friday, Jackson has prioritized sticking to his routine as he will make his collegiate debut on Friday as Oklahoma opens up the 2024 season against Temple.
He is set to be the first true freshman to start at defensive tackle since Tommie Harris in 2001, and just the fourth in program history.
“It’s just an amazing opportunity that I’ve been blessed with,” Jackson told reporters on Monday. “But the job is not secure. We have a bunch of depth and a bunch of guys continuously working, so it’s really not there yet."
The former four-star recruit arrived on campus during the spring semester and made a solid impression during the spring game, as he was tied for third among defensive players with four tackles.
In his tenure as OU’s head coach, Brent Venables and his staff have not been afraid to play freshmen. In 2023, 4,240 of the Sooners’ snaps went to freshmen — the most of any ranked team last season.
Freshman defensive lineman Jayden Jackson during spring practice on March 27.
After being named a starter on Sunday, Venables mentioned at his weekly press conference how impressive Jackson has been throughout fall camp and how the defensive tackle is ready for this moment.
“He’s got a great deal of maturity,” Venables said on Monday. “Very focused, driven, ambitious, shows up and puts the work in every single day. He’s a model of consistency with his habits, his mindset and physical toughness.”
With Damonic Williams expected to be the anchor on the defensive line, the Sooners needed someone else to step up following Jacob Lacey’s medical retirement in the offseason. Jackson mentioned Williams as someone who he has leaned on during fall camp and in the offseason.
“That’s my brother,” Jackson said. “He’s a very vocal leader and we live on the field. The whole (defensive) line communication is key. Without that, we wouldn’t be able to do our assignments.”
With the motivation and help of his high school teammate and current roommate David Stone, Jackson sees Stone as another version of himself and hopes they will both continue to grow during their first season with the Sooners.
“It’s been amazing continuing that connection to college,” Jackson said. “It’s like I’m playing with myself, so it’s been amazing.”
When Jackson takes the field on Friday in front of more than 80,000 fans, he admitted there will be nerves. Regardless, Venables and the Sooners believe he is ready to make his mark.
“I can’t lie, I’m going to be very nervous,” Jackson said. “This is just part of football. I feel like preparing really gets that away. Coach Todd Bates always tells me if I’m prepared to know what I’m doing, there’s no way I should be anxious or nervous.”
