A physically imposing nose tackle prospect whose 35-inch arms and run-stopping ability made him a fourth-round pick after stops at Maryland, Miami and Florida State.
Darrell Jackson Jr. transferred twice before finishing his college career at Florida State, overcoming a denied hardship waiver that cost him most of a season. The Jets drafted him in the fourth round in 2026, and he is now competing for nose tackle reps as a rookie.
Path to the league
Jackson began his college career at Maryland in 2021, appearing in all 13 games with one start. He transferred to Miami for 2022, starting all 12 games and recording 27 tackles and three sacks, before moving on to Florida State, where an NCAA hardship waiver denial limited him to just the Orange Bowl in 2023.
Career highlights
Jackson started all 24 of Florida State's games across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, finishing with 77 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble over that stretch. He ranked fifth nationally in run stops in 2025 and ninth among defensive tackles in pressure rate in 2024, production that helped him land in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
2025 season recap
In his final Florida State season, Jackson was a full-time starter at defensive tackle and ranked fifth in the country in run stops, cementing his reputation as a run-stuffing interior presence. The New York Jets selected him with the 103rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he is expected to compete for nose tackle reps alongside recently acquired T'Vondre Sweat.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Darrell Jackson Jr.
- New York Jets: Darrell Jackson Jr. draft profile
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Florida State
- Hometown
- Havana, FL, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
