Tag: McKinnley Jackson

Media predicts Texas A&M’s finish in SEC West, Five Aggies make Preseason All-SEC

With the SEC’s 2023 media days having wrapped up, the projected order of finish was revealed for Texas A&M, who saw five Aggies earn Preseason All-SEC recognition.

With SEC media days having wrapped up on Friday, the festivities officially conclude with the release of this year’s Preseason All-SEC candidates and the unveiling of the predicted order of finish for the 2023 season.

This year’s rollout carries some added significance as it marks the final season of the two-division, 14-team format. Next year, the SEC will welcome Texas and Oklahoma into the fold and abandon the division structure, as each program will play eight conference games for the 2024 season.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Texas A&M was predicted by the media to finish third in the SEC West, behind Alabama (1) and LSU (2). The Crimson Tide received 165 votes to win the West, edging out LSU, who received 117. The Aggies, meanwhile, received one first-place vote.

Over in the East, Georgia was predicted to win the division with 265 first-place votes and additionally was picked to win the SEC Championship with 181 points.

Additionally, Aggie football saw five players earn Preseason All-SEC recognition on Friday after polling by the media at media days. Ainias Smith was named a first-team all-purpose player, second-team return specialist, and third-team wide receiver.

At their primary positions, Nik Constantinou, McKinnley Jackson, and Demani Richardson were each named to the second team, while Layden Robinson earned third-team distinctions.

With just under two months until the start of the 2023 season, Texas A&M will prepare for their first matchup of the season as they play host to New Mexico on Saturday, September 2, at Kyle Field, with kick-off set for 6:00 p.m. CT.

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How to Watch: 2023 Texas A&M SEC Media Days event

Jimbo and company will be the SEC Media days in Nashville, Tennessee to answer any and all questions

It seems like yesterday that the Aggies were coming off a 5-7 season with no bowl game and losing the No.1 Linebacker for the second consecutive season. But it’s summertime now, and Jimbo has gone from everyone looking to find the best way to buy out this contract to possibly a top-10 recruiting class for 2024.

After an interesting transfer period where the Aggies dominated social media with the storyline that everything was falling apart in Bryan/College Station. However, with Bobby Petrino on board calling plays, a few big weeks of recruiting, and the release of the 2024 schedule, there will be plenty to talk about in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Grand Hyatt.

Representing Texas A&M in front of the media will be Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive end Fadil Diggs, and defensive tackle McKinney Jackson.

HOW TO WATCH

Time: Approx. 1:45 p.m. CT on Monday in Nashville

TV: SEC Network

Live stream: SEC Network+

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Texas A&M announces three player representatives for SEC media days 2023

Three players will join Texas A&M football head coach Jimbo Fisher at this year’s SEC media days in Nashville.

The Southeastern Conference will hold its annual SEC media days next week at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, and three Texas A&M football players will join in on the festivities.

Wide receiver Ainias Smith, defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, and defensive end Fadil Diggs will represent the Maroon and White at the 2023 SEC Media Days. The three will join Aggie football head coach Jimbo Fisher, who is scheduled to speak on the first day. LSU‘s Brian Kelly and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz are among the other coaches joining Fisher in speaking on Day 1.

Georgia‘s Kirby Smart, Auburn‘s Hugh Freeze, Alabama‘s Nick Saban, Arkansas‘ Sam Pittman, Florida‘s Billy Napier, and Tennessee‘s Josh Heupel are among the other coaches with dedicated speaking times.

Smith, Jackson, and Diggs will represent the Maroon and White as established veterans of the football team and prior team captains as well. Diggs led the Aggies in sacks (3) last season while Jackson’s return should give Texas A&M a jolt of depth upfront. Smith, who is returning for a fifth year following a season-ending injury against Arkansas in 2022, caps off a trio of talented receivers alongside Evan Stewart and Moose Muhammad III.

The 2023 SEC media days will run from Monday, July 17 through Thursday, July 20. Preseason All-SEC teams selected by the media at SEC Media Days will be announced following the event on the morning of July 21. Media Days will kick off Monday morning at 11:30 am CT with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey first on the speaking schedule.

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ESPN lists Texas A&M DT McKinnley Jackson as an underrated prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft

Texas A&M senior DT McKinnley Jackson is the straw that stirs the Aggie’s defense, and NFL scouts have recognized his tremendous value.

Texas A&M’s 2023 season will undoubtedly be marred by multiple narratives surrounding Head Coach Jimbo Fisher’s inability to “steady the ship” during the Aggies’ 5-7 2022 debacle. Still, after hiring new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, combined with an elite roster littered with blue-chip talent, there’s nowhere to go but up as we head into fall camp.

With several returning veterans on offense and defense, ESPN’s Matt Miller asked 15 NFL scouts who they believe are the most underrated prospects heading into next year’s 2024 NFL Draft. To no surprise, Texas A&M senior defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson made the list ahead of what should be his most productive season yet.

Over the last two seasons, injuries paired with a lack of alignment change on the line, taking most of his snaps at the nose tackle position, Jackson was a team captain last season, recording 37 tackles (23 solo), seven tackles for loss, and two sacks on the year, including a career-high 12 tackles against Ole Miss. According to PFF, Jackson ranked as the highest-rated defensive lineman for the Aggies last season, and to fully utilize his ability as a three-down lineman, providing more pass-rush opportunities as opposed to lining him up to stop the run will not only benefit the team but further aid in his draft stock going into 2024.

Here are some of what NFL scouts said about Jackson’s ability in the trenches.

From an NFL scout who covers Texas:

“The first thing you notice is his explosiveness. There is so much power generated off the snap. He’s hard to handle one-on-one,”

From an NFC scout:

You talk to the coaches down there, and they’ll tell you the O-line is struggling to contain him — and that’s a veteran interior line down there,” he stated “If he’s doing that in practice, watch out.”

at 6-2 and over 320 pounds, Jackson’s explosive first step and high-end athleticism will have every NFL scout in the country vying for talents, and with the players surrounding him on the line this coming season, including Shemar Turner, Walter Nolan, Shemar Stewart, etc., the sky is the limit for McKinnley Jackson.

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Texas A&M Spring Football 2023: Defensive line position breakdown

Texas A&M will return a talented front seven next season, and the position group is shaping up to be an absolute terror for the rest of the SEC.

Spring football for Texas A&M is well underway, which means it’s every fan’s obligation to parse through the depth chart ahead of what will be an important 2023 season. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered by breaking down each positional battle, and up next is taking a look at the front seven for the Maroon and White.

While a large part of the Aggies’ 2022 regular season woes were a result of inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball, the defense managed to hold up its end of the bargain. Texas A&M finished last season with an average of 21.2 points per game surrendered to their opponents, which ranked 25th in the nation.

Even amid a year of injuries, suspensions, and inexperience from younger players, The Aggies’ front seven flashed their potential in 2022 as a dominant force to come in the SEC. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone after Jimbo Fisher pulled in a historic recruiting class, but what would make foes worried is that this position group still has so much potential heading into next season.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the current defensive line group is shaping up for the Aggies:

Returners (2022 season stats)

  • DE – Sophomore Shemar Stewart (12 games) / Sophomore LT Overton (11 games)
  • NT – Senior McKinnley Jackson (8 games) / Senior Isaiah Raikes (12 games) / Redshirt Sophomore Albert Regis (11 games)
  • DT – Junior Shemar Turner (11 games) / Sophomore Walter Nolen (10 games) / Redshirt Freshman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy
  • EDGE – Redshirt Junior Fadil Diggs (8 games) / Sophomore Enai White (7 games) / Sophomore Malick Sylla (12 games)

Key thoughts and predictions:

That historic 2022 recruiting class was headlined by the likes of No. 1 defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, L.T. Overton, and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy. All those aforementioned names flashed their upside a season ago, but now with a year of experience in their back pocket, it sets up this defensive line group to absolutely roll over their opponents next season.

It won’t happen overnight, and there is plenty of work and refinement needed between spring ball and Week 1, but this projected starting lineup should have Aggie fans ecstatic for the fall.

We’ll see how the final depth chart shakes out after spring practices, but a likely starting lineup could be Fadil Diggs on the edge, with McKinnley Jackson, Stewart and either Nolen or Shemar Turner rounding out the front four.

Don’t let the outside noise and talking heads get you too worked up by singling out A&M’s offense. It would be negligent to see what’s brewing on the defensive line for the Maroon and White in 2023. It’s shaping up to be a beautiful sight for the Aggie faithful, and an absolute terror for the rest of the SEC.

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Texas A&M Spring Football: Jimbo Fisher and players speak during the second week of spring practice

Hear what Aggies Head coach Jimbo Fisher, DL McKinnley Jackson, and OL Layden Robinson had to say during Thursday’s Press Conference

Texas A&M is off to a great start during the second full week of spring football practice, and the best part of all is that aside from the low-hanging fruit that is the playcalling “controversy” between Fisher and new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, all is quiet on the maroon and white front, for now.

On Thursday afternoon, Jimbo Fisher, senior defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, and senior offensive lineman Layden Robinson sat down to take questions for the local media regarding the progress the team has made during spring ball, potential postion changes on the O-line, and of course, how well Bobby Petrino’s has adjusted to his new gig after a couple of months on the job.

Aside from the playcalling dispute that will hopefully be put to bed once and for all, star sophomore wide receiver Evan Stewart’s ankle injury that was revealed through a social media post (to be public) last weekend finally received some clarity, as Fisher states that he is currently “day to day”. Here is what all three had to say in the afternoon.

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Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty

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Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List features two Aggies

Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List features two Aggies

The college football off-season is swiftly coming to an end, as the season officially starts exactly one month from now on August 27th, with the Aggies kicking their season off on September 3rd. With that, preseason award watch lists have been rapidly announced over the last couple of days, and one of the more prestigious awards, The Outland Trophy, recently presented its watch list which happened to include two Aggies, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, and defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson.

Voted on by The Football Writers Association of America, the award recognized 89 returned interior linemen and is presented annually to the interior lineman, offensive or defense, who showed exceptional play during the season. Here is how the FWAA explained the award ceremony process:

The recipient of the 2022 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Thurs., Dec. 8. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 11, 2023.

Layden Robinson is returning for his third season after an injury-plagued sophomore campaign, looking to continue his dominant play as one of the best-run blockers in the country, with legitimate high-end potential as an early pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

McKinnley Jackson is also coming off of an injury/suspension based 2021 season, but was a solid contributor at nose tackle during his time on the field, accumulating 14 tackles and 1 sack in 4 starts with 10 games played. with a number of departures on the defensive line this season, Jackson will be looked to lead a group of highly talented, but inexperienced defensive linemen.

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Texas A&M Player Profiles: Defensive Lineman, McKinnley Jackson

Texas A&M Player Profiles: Defensive Lineman, McKinnley Jackson

Going into the 2022 football season, Aggies Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas A&M roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Jimbo Fisher this season.

McKinnley Jackson is entering his third season at Texas A&M, looking to take over as the starting nose tackle after the departure of Jayden Peevy following the 2021 season. Ranked as the top player in Mississippi for the 2020 recruiting class, Jackson’s early playing days were spent at Georgia County High School in Lucedale, Mississippi, where during his 4-year varsity career, he amassed 308 total tackles, 34 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and 6 fumble recoveries. Seen as one of the most dominant defensive line prospects in years, Jackson chose the Aggies over the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, and Clemson, making it official on Feb. 5, 2020. Jackson chose to forgo redshirting during the 2020 season and proceeded to appear in all 10 games, making 13 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 2 pass deflections. The following 2021 season saw a small dip in Jackson’s overall performance, playing in 10 games and accounting for 14 total tackles, only 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss, sharing the nose tackle rotation with Isaiah Raikes, and starter Jayden Peevy. As we head into the 2022 season, look for McKinnley Jackson at the front of the defensive line pack.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Lucedale, Mississippi

Height: 6-2

Weight: 335lbs

247Sports Composite Ranking

Class in 2020: 4-Star player ranking, No.1 player in the state of Mississippi, 9th ranked defensive tackle prospect in the country

Career Stats

Year G Tackles TFL Sacks FF
2020 10 13 2 1.5 0
2021 10 14 1 1 0

PFF Grades

Year Defense Run Defense Tackling Pass Rush
2020 51.2 44.5 56.0 65.4
2021 57.1 56.5 30.1 61.7

Depth Chart Overview

McKinnley Jackson (Junior) is projected to be the starting nose tackle for Texas A&M for the upcoming 2022 season under Jimbo Fishers’ 4-2-5 defensive scheme, led by the first-year defensive coordinator for the Aggies, D.J. Durkin. Jackson is joined by potential starting defensive tackle, Shemar Turner (Sophomore), starting edge rusher, Fadil Diggs (Redshirt Sophomore), and potential starting defensive ends, Tunmise Adeleye (Red Shirt Freshman) and Elijah Jeudy (Red Shirt Freshman). Overall, Jackson displays an SEC nose tackle frame at 6-2, 335lbs, carries his weight well from a movement perspective, and is a bully in the interior with adequate hand use and good initial burst, outmuscling most interior lineman from the start of the snap. As a rotational player in his first two seasons, Jackson took advantage of every rep he was given, putting immense pressure on the quarterback in multiple games during the 2021 season. With this year being his first as the presumed starter at nose tackle, Jackson has the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage every weekend and raise his NFL draft stock in the process as well.

Players’ Photo Gallery

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby (4) is sandwiched in a tackle by Texas A&M linebacker Andre White Jr. (32) and defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (35) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.

Auburn Texas A M

Oct 23, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (35) and South Carolina Gamecocks defensive lineman M.J. Webb (94) during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (35) reacts to wrapping up South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Zeb Noland (not pictured) for a loss during the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

BREAKING: 4-star DT McKinnley Jackson makes his college decision

McKinney Jackson, a high-priority target for Alabama, has officially made a decision on where he’ll play at the next level.

McKinley Jackson was a high-priority target for Alabama entering the second National Signing Day on Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, the four-star defensive lineman will be going elsewhere.

During a signing ceremony at his high school in Lucedale (Miss.), Jackson announced that he would be joining Jimbo Fisher and the 2020 recruiting class for Texas A&M.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Jackson is rated as the No. 61 overall player, No. 9 defensive tackle and No. 1 player from the state of Mississippi.

It is a pretty big blow to Alabama’s chances of landing the No. 1 overall class, but that doesn’t mean the Tide hasn’t brought in a tremendous amount of talent.

Between the additions in the 2019 class (DJ Dale, Byron Young, Justin Eboigbe, Ishmael Sopsher, etc.) and the 2020 group (five-star Tim Smith, Jah-Marien Latham, Jamil Burroughs and Jayson Jones), Alabama’s defensive line is still in great hands.

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