Tag: Khyree Jackson

Vikings rookie CB Khyree Jackson, who passed away Friday, had special potential

Khyree Jackson overcame a lot to realize his NFL dreams before they were tragically taken away.

There’s no need to put the tragedy of a young life lost into football terms and unrealized potential in that sense, but Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson, who passed away in an automobile accident on Friday, had the skills to be a real force for his NFL team.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Khyree’s passing,” Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf said in a statement. “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player, and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives. We are thinking about Khyree’s family and friends and all members of the Minnesota Vikings following this devastating loss.”

“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

Jackson’s climb to elite status as a player had some twists and turns. He started his collegiate career at Fort Scott Community College before losing 2020 as a COVID season at East Mississippi Community College. Jackson had been a top recruit out of high school, and that finally bore out when he signed with Alabama before the 2021 season. In two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Jackson struggled to find the field among so much talent, so he transferred to Oregon for the 2023 season, and that’s where it really started to pay off for him.

In 2023, Jackson allowed 19 catches on 38 targets for 200 yards, 102 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, eight pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 41.6. Among FBS cornerbacks playing at least 50% of their defenses’ snaps last season, that opponent passer rating was 10th best overall.

Jackson was especially tough to deal with in man and press coverages last season — when in man, he gave up eight passes on 18 targets for 96 yards, 49 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, one interception, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 38.2.

It was clear that Khyree Jackson had the potential to be a leading force in Minnesota’s defense this season, and while the personal aspect of such a tragedy should always be the focus, it’s also important to remember Jackson as a player and a person who overcame a lot to realize his dream before it was so cruelly taken away.

Vikings CB Khyree Jackson tragically passes away at 24

Minnesota Vikings cornerback and 2024 fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson tragically passed away early Saturday morning. He was 24 years old. 

Minnesota Vikings cornerback and 2024 fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson tragically passed away early Saturday morning. He was 24 years old.

It was first reported by James Crepea of The Oregonian that the former Oregon Duck cornerback passed away in an auto accident.

A preliminary report from the Maryland State Police stated that Jackson and two other occupants of the vehicle, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr., were all lost in a crash that involved two other vehicles. No other injuries were reported in the involved vehicles. The Maryland State Police also added that charges are pending an investigation and are still ongoing.

Rumors started on Saturday morning when his high school, Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School’s athletic department posted a message of condolences to Jackson’s family on social media.

Khyree Jackson was drafted out of Oregon this past April by the Vikings.  Before his time in Oregon, Jackson had started his college career in Alabama, where he enrolled as a 4-star recruit, according to 247 Sports. On Saturday morning, his coach at Oregon, Dan Lanning, went to social media to offer his condolences on the loss.

This is tragic news for the family of Khyree Jackson, Isaiah Hazel, Anthony Lytton Jr., the Minnesota Vikings, and NFL family as a whole. Our thoughts and condolences are with them all at this difficult time.

Former Oregon Ducks cornerback Khyree Jackson dies in car accident

According to a report, Minnesota Vikings rookie and former Oregon Ducks cornerback Khyree Jackson died in a car accident at age 24.

Tragic news came out on Saturday morning when The Oregonian’s James Crepea reported former Oregon Ducks cornerback Khyree Jackson was killed in a car accident.

Jackson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings this spring after spending the 2023 season with the Ducks. He started his career at the junior college level before spending time with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

He was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft after racking up 34 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions in 2023.

Jackson was drawing rave reviews during minicamp and offseason workouts with the Vikings and was expected to be an early contributor as a rookie in the NFL.

He was 24 years old.

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Mekhi Blackmon labeled a potential breakout candidate by PFN

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mekhi Blackmon has been named a potential breakout candidate for the 2024 season by Tony Catalina of PFN.

The Minnesota Vikings’ defense was much improved over the 2023 season compared to the 2022 squad. The defensive scheme Brian Flores has employed with the team seems to have clicked and is starting to pay dividends. But the squad heads into the 2024 season with some significant questions on the defense, particularly in the cornerback room.

The Vikings signed former Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin in the off-season in the hopes that he can bolster the cornerback corps, return to his former Pro Bowl form, and provide some veteran leadership and mentorship for their rookie third-round pick, Khyree Jackson.

But another former third-round pick has caught the eye of some during mini-camps. Pro Football Network’s Tony Catalina examined every team heading into training camp and identified one potential breakout player from each. For the Vikings, Catalina’s pick is Mekhi Blackmon.

The Vikings entered the offseason with question marks at the CB position, and as the season creeps close, they still have some of those questions. However, Blackmon hopes to be the answer for them, and those around the team believe he can be. The young DB has a chance to make a name for himself in 2024 and solidify a unit that needs it.

Blackmon had an up-and-down start to his Vikings career in his rookie campaign of 2023. He had some solid stats, with 43 tackles, three tackles for loss, seven passes defended, and a fumble recovery. On the flip side, Blackmon could only garner three starts as a rookie even on a team that struggled at the position.

If Blackmon can step up in his sophomore season and become a reliable cover corner for the team, it would go a long way toward making the Vikings’ defense one of the best units in the league.

Vikings announce signing of fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson

The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday evening they signed fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson, leaving just two 2024 draft picks unsigned.

The Minnesota Vikings took to social media Tuesday evening to announce the signing of 2024 NFL draft fourth-round selection Khyree Jackson. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Vikings team account officially announced the signing, moving the team one step closer to getting their entire draft class under contract.

The Vikings took Jackson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a standout senior season with the Oregon Ducks, during which Jackson had three interceptions and seven passes defended. More than just a coverage defensive back, Jackson also showed he could disrupt plays in the backfield, adding two sacks and five tackles for loss for the Ducks.

Prior to Oregon, Jackson spent time at Alabama with legendary head coach Nick Saban and first-round pick Dallas Turner. Turner and his fellow first-round pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, are now the only Vikings draft picks who remain unsigned.

Vikings named best fit for two high-profile free agents by ESPN

ESPN NFL writer Matt Bowen has named the Minnesota Vikings as the best fit for free agents Adoree’ Jackson and Dalton Risner.

The glitz and glamor of the NFL’s free agency period has long since passed, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still many good options on the market. For one reason or another, several high-profile players still have yet to find homes for next season. Players who could come in and fill some trouble spots on rosters across the NFL, including on the Minnesota Vikings.

ESPN NFL writer Matt Bowen has named the Vikings the best fit for two such players: former New York Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson and their own former offensive guard, Dalton Risner.

According to Bowen, despite the Vikings having drafted former Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, Adoree Jackson could come in and be an immediate fit in the Brian Flores defense. Bowen points to Flores’ scheme, which relies heavily on the blitz, something that fits Jackson’s aggressive nature.

On the other side of the ball, the Vikings still could use plenty of help along the offensive line, and Risner is surprisingly still on the market. Risner played most of the season in 2023 for the Vikings and garnered the fifth-best Pass Block Win Rate in the NFL at his position. He’s also an aggressive run blocker, which not only works well in the Kevin O’Connell offense but should also play to the strengths of the Vikings’ new running back, former Green Bay Packers start Aaron Jones.

Cornerback and guard are two positions the Vikings are likely looking to upgrade, so these two would make sense. Will they make sense for the team financially? That’s another matter entirely, but it would make sense for the team to at least give them a look heading into OTAs and further into the offseason.

Two Vikings make CBS Sports’ ‘best fits’ from 2024 NFL Draft

CBS Sports NFL draft analyst Chris Trapasso has released his top 10 fits from the 2024 NFL Draft and the Vikings have two picks on the list.

It’s been several weeks since the 2024 NFL draft, but that hasn’t stopped a slew of draft analysts from sharing their thoughts on how teams performed in the event. For the most part, the Minnesota Vikings have received positive acclaim for their picks, and that’s the case again with the latest from CBS Sports.

In analyst Chris Trapasso’s “best fits” column, not one but two Vikings made his top 10 list. In fact, both players — Khyree Jackson and J.J. McCarthy — made his top five overall. Jackson came in at number five for Trapasso, with him stating that Jackson gives him Xavien Howard vibes:

Jackson gave me Xavien Howard vibes on film. Long, athletic, ultra-physical, at times tremendously suffocating at the line and at the catch point, and other times lost in coverage.

But you know who got the most out of Howard in the NFL? Vikings current defensive coordinator Brian Flores. In 2020, under Flores’ tutelage, Howard led the NFL with 10 interceptions. Now, Flores wasn’t necessarily integral in the development of Howard, who was a 2016 draft pick. But he certainly understood how to maximize his special yet imperfect skill set.

And now Flores gets another intimidating boundary cornerback with otherworldly length and an up-and-down style the Vikings are likely hoping can be smoothed out to more consistent play. The former Alabama defender had three picks and seven pass breakups at Oregon in 2023. It’ll be fascinating to monitor how Flores works with another Howard-like specimen in the his secondary.

The new Vikings quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, came in as the second-best fit from the 2024 NFL draft, according to Trapasso, with only third-round linebacker Peyton Wilson and the Steelers as a better fit, according to the analyst. Here’s what Trapasso had to say about McCarthy’s fit with Minnesota:

McCarthy is a rare cat at the quarterback spot in that he’s young — only 21 years old — with plenty of experience — 38 starts — at Michigan.

While he won’t be one of the top-5 athletes at his position in the NFL, he proved to be plenty capable of either creating with his legs when the original play is coverage or, simply, throwing with timing, accuracy and velocity while on the run.

And that functional mobility is key in an offense from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. Kevin O’Connell will likely feel far more comfortable with the play-action bootleg at the core of his scheme. McCarthy typically understands where to go with the football and can glide through his reads, two other elements key to most aerial attacks but especially critical in O’Connell’s very meticulously timed offense.

The setup for McCarthy is magnificent, too. Doesn’t necessarily have to be forced onto the field in Week 1 given the presence of Sam Darnold. But Darnold isn’t so good that he’ll keep McCarthy holding the clipboard for long. And… Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, a rock-solid offensive line.

McCarthy landed in the best environment of any first-round quarterback.

While some fans and analysts alike may be concerned about what the Vikings had to give up to get their high-profile picks, it seems the overall consensus from the NFL draft community is that the Vikings came away with at least a few great pieces for the future.

Vikings sign sixth-round OL Walter Rouse

The Minnesota Vikings have announced they’ve come to terms with sixth-round draft pick Walter Rouse. This leaves three selections unsigned.

As the NFL offseason continues to kick into high gear with rookie minicamps, teams around the league are also continuing to get their NFL draft classes under contract. That includes the Minnesota Vikings, who just announced they’ve come to terms with another member of their rookie class— sixth-round offensive lineman Walter Rouse.

Rouse was the Vikings’ first of two picks in the sixth round, coming off the board to Minnesota at No. 177. Rouse figures to provide the Vikings with much-needed depth along the offensive line. He played tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023 after transferring from Stanford following four seasons with the Cardinal.

Rouse comes in as the likely primary backup for starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw, as Rouse was a primary left tackle at both Oklahoma and Stanford. However, he’ll likely be battling with UDFAs Doug Nester and Spencer Rolland for a roster spot.

With the signing of Rouse, the Vikings are down to just three members of the 2024 NFL draft class left unsigned: first-round picks J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner and fourth-rounder Khyree Jackson.

Mekhi Blackmon approves of new teammate Khyree Jackson

Last year, the Vikings found a potential diamond in round three of the 2024 NFL Draft. They may have found another in the 2024 class.

Last year, the Minnesota Vikings found a potential diamond in round three of the 2024 NFL Draft. That diamond still needs some polish, but Mekhi Blackmon is looking for the part after being drafted out of USC.

Now Blackmon is seeing the team draft another defensive back in round three the following year, and he has given his stamp of approval.

In a post on his Instagram story, Blackmon shared a clip showing him enjoying highlight reels of the former Oregon Duck. Throughout the clip, he can be heard laughing and giving various approval points, showcasing his excitement over his new teammate.

Blackmon came in as a rookie and broke up eight passes while securing one interception in the process. He also tallied 41 tackles while also securing one fumble recovery. If the Vikings get that same type of rookie year out of Khyree Jackson then this secondary may see itself taking a turn.

Betting odds for Khyree Jackson, Brandon Dorlus to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Can Brandon Dorlus or Khyree Jackson win the NFL Rookie of the Year? Here are the odds.

The Oregon Ducks saw a program-record eight players go to the NFL a week ago in the 2024 draft, headlined by guys like defensive guys like Khyree Jackson, Brandon Dorlus, and Evan Williams all landing with their professional teams.

There are a ton of guys who will get a shot to prove themselves as rookies in the 2024 season, but the top two defensive guys drafted — Dorlus and Jackson — could really have an early impact should they hit the ground running.

After all the dust has settled from the draft, FanDuel Sportsbook released their betting odds for popular future bets, like offensive and defensive rookie of the year. Here’s where the Ducks are listed:

  • CB Khyree Jackson: +6000
  • DL Brandon Dorlus: +10000

We have seen rookie cornerbacks excel in years past, and had he stayed healthy, former Duck Christian Gonzalez had a good chance to win the defensive Rookie of the Year award last year, so it’s not hard to see the path for someone like Jackson.

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