ATHENS – Just who is Dan Jackson?
If you were watching Georgia’s game against No. 8 Arkansas this past Saturday, then you at least know that he wears No. 47 for the No. 2-ranked Bulldogs and blocked a punt in the 37-0 victory at Sanford Stadium. But Jackson was making an impression at UGA long before his perfectly-time sprint through the middle of the Razorbacks’ punt formation resulted in a Georgia’s third touchdown of the first quarter.
“Ah, Dan,” junior defensive tackle Travon Walker said, a grin stretching across his face. “Dan is one of those guys that, ever since he first came here, has always worked hard, never complained about anything. You never hear him say anything negative. He’s one of those guys that’s just always positive, always around the locker room smiling, always there to pick you up. He’s a great teammate.
“Seeing him block that punt, that was awesome!”
Dan Jackson is the son of Joe and Valencia Jackson of Gainesville, Ga. His father is a dentist and his mother also works in the family practice there on Limestone Parkway near the shores of Lake Lanier.
Dan is one of three boys in the Jackson household. Sam is the oldest. Like Dan, Sam was MVP of the North Hall High football team. He has already graduated from UGA and is now attending dental school himself. Will is the youngest. He’s a junior at North Hall, where he is trying to follow in his older brothers’ footsteps as a football and baseball player. However, he is currently recovering from an ACL injury. He watched Saturday’s game at Sanford Stadium on crutches.
As for Dan, he was one of the most talented football players David Bishop has ever coached at North Hall. He played both ways for the Trojans as a running back and defensive back and also returned kicks. Jackson accounted for 1,785 all-purpose yards, 26 TDs and four interceptions as a senior.
Bishop spent the better part of Dan’s final year at North Hall trying to convince anybody who would listen that his pupil was worthy of a college scholarship offer. Alas, none were forthcoming.
“The spring before his senior year he was probably 5-foot-11, maybe 160 pounds,” Bishop said. “He had excellent speed, but he was just skinny. Over the summer, he just blossomed. His body changed, his strength went through the roof. I pushed him hard with Air Force, but when they came and visited him, they saw the skinny guy.”
After Jackson was named Region 7-AAA Player of the Year and played in the GACA All-Star game, the Air Force Academy reevaluated its decision. They finally stepped up with an offer two days before Jackson was supposed to enroll at UGA for summer school.
But after going to bed thinking he was going to accept the Falcons’ offer – which comes with a postgraduate enlistment requirement – Jackson woke up the next morning realizing he wanted to go to Georgia as planned.
For that, the Bulldogs are extremely thankful.
“All he does is give everything he’s got every single day,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I love the kid, he’s done a great job, the kid deserves a dang scholarship and soon as we can get one from him, we’re going to try and do that.”
Three years later, the Georgia walk-on is 6-1 and is closing in on 200 pounds. Smart said Jackson runs a legitimate 4.5-second 40-yard dash, which is what first grabbed his attention, and he studies film like he’s preparing for a mechanical engineering final.
Saturday’s blocked punt perfectly encapsulated everything Jackson brings to the table for the Bulldogs.
Arkansas was having to punt from its own 8. Jackson didn’t show he was coming after the kick until the last second, then he timed up his rush perfectly. Getting a running start from the left flank of the defensive secondary, he accelerated through a gap the line of scrimmage just as the ball was snapped.
Halfway into the Arkansas end zone, Jackson leapt just as an upback caught up with a shoulder. Jackson’s outstretched fingertips caught the ball milliseconds after it left the foot of Arkansas punter Reid Bauer. Jackson knew he’d blocked the kick but couldn’t located the ball before it bounded back down to earth.
Georgia’s Zamir White saw it, though. The Bulldogs’ starting running back pounced on it a yard from the back line of the end zone. An already deafening din inside Sanford Stadium grew even louder as the Georgia took a 21-0 lead with 2:18 still remaining in the first quarter.
On the opposite end of Sanford Stadium, Jackson’s family struggled to figure out what just happened.
“I was on the wrong side of the field,” said Joe Jackson, who was sitting in the West End grandstands with the rest of the players’ parents. “I had a hard time seeing it, but I could tell by the crowd’s reaction that something good happened. Then I saw it on the replay board. It just never gets old watching that replay.”
Jackson’s entire family was there to enjoy the moment. Now that Dan has assumed a regular role with the Bulldogs, they try to make it to every game, home and away.
In addition to being a special-teams starter, Jackson is also listed as Georgia’s backup to Lewis Cine at free safety. He has played in every game this season. He enters Saturday’s game at Auburn with seven tackles and a quarterback pressure.
“We’re just enjoying the ride with him,” Joe Jackson said. “We’re just happy for him that his hard work is paying off. Dan has a lot of people praying for him. And, you know, that’s the thing; you just don’t know how long you’re going to stay healthy and be able to contribute. So, we just pray for his safety and health. And Dan knows that’s where it all comes from. So, he just relies on his strong faith to get him through the rigors of each day.”
Jackson is a redshirt sophomore, so he has at least two more years remaining with the Bulldogs. He had an interception in the G-Day Game last April, so the thinking within the team is there are more big plays within him.
“Dan’s one of the hardest working guys I know and also one of the best guys I know,” said Georgia snapper Payne Walker, a fellow walk-on. “He’s just a guy who comes in every day and gets his work done. He keeps his head down, doesn’t say a lot. Dan’s never had a problem with doubting himself. He’s very confident, shows up and shows out.”
For Jackson, the blocked punt and the regular playing time are bonuses. But his father said making such plays is really not Dan’s primary motivation.
“I tell you, Dan is just so thrilled to get such great coaching,” Joe Jackson said. “I mean, he’s getting to learn from these great coaches every day and he knows he’s so blessed just to get to go through this experience. Being a walkon and getting trained by the best of the best, he’s just trying to soak it all up learn all he can and just give it his all.”
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