A Cincinnati-area walk-on who couldn't crack the lineup at Ohio State, Jackson Kuwatch broke out at Miami (OH) with a 109-tackle season before Carolina took him in the seventh round.
Jackson Kuwatch's path is a classic tale of patience rewarded: two quiet years as a walk-on at Ohio State, then a move down a level to Miami (OH) that turned into a breakout senior season and an NFL Draft selection. The Panthers grabbed the local product with a late-round pick as a special teams and depth linebacker option.
Path to the league
Kuwatch grew up in West Chester, Ohio, and starred at Lakota West High School before committing to Ohio State as a preferred walk-on. He did not see game action in his two seasons with the Buckeyes and entered the transfer portal, landing at Miami (OH) for the 2023 through 2025 seasons. Carolina selected him in the seventh round, 227th overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
After minimal playing time in his first two seasons at Miami (OH), Kuwatch developed into a full-time starter by 2025, when he started all 14 games and led the RedHawks' defense in production. His breakout year earned him third-team All-MAC honors and an invitation to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl.
2025 season recap
Kuwatch's senior season was easily his best, as he racked up 109 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks across 14 starts for Miami (OH), numbers that made him one of the most productive linebackers in the MAC. That production carried him to third-team All-MAC recognition and, ultimately, a seventh-round selection by Carolina.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jackson Kuwatch
- Panthers.com: With the 227th overall pick, the Panthers take linebacker Jackson Kuwatch
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Miami (OH)
- Hometown
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
