Top 100 EDGE Christopher Jackson’s bond with Clemson ‘different’

Tucker (Ga.) four-star edge Christopher Jackson has a bunch of great bonds brewing with programs recruiting him. Jackson’s recruitment exploded late in the 2022 season.

That has continued this spring with new offers still trickling in. The No. 83 overall prospect in the 2024 On3 rankings has a few programs in mind for official visits already.

Jackson’s tone is a little different when it comes to Clemson. The Tigers have connected with Jackson that other programs haven’t at the moment.

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Clemson as Jackson’s leader at the moment. The Tigers have a 29.3 percent chance of landing the four-star edge.

Christopher Jackson and Lemanksi Hall connect beyond football

He wore Clemson gloves throughout much of the season. Clemson defensive end coach Lemanski Hall was in touch prior to Jackson holding any of the offers that came.

“They were one of the first schools to offer and even before that me and coach Hall had been in contact months before that,” Jackson said.

It was Hall that gave Jackson a vote of confidence early on in the process.

“Coach Hall was telling me to trust the process even when I didn’t have any offers,” Jackson said. “He was like you’re ‘one of those guys’. He said ‘You’re going to get those offers because you’re the type of player we want’. I always knew that I could possibly get that offer.”

Hall put words to action ahead of Clemson’s game against Miami back on Nov. 19. The Tigers offered Jackson. The way he was offered still stands out to Jackson.

Head coach Dabo Swinney and Hall made things personal and family-led. That stuck with Jackson.

“Going up there, they offered me personally before the Miami game,” Jackson said. “He pulled me to his office and coach Hall, my grandma, coach Swinney and his wife were all there when they offered. It’s different. You feel that family atmosphere.”

The Clemson culture is a major selling point to Jackson. He and Hall’s conversations go beyond the football field and schematics. Jackson and Hall have become close.

“We talk about a lot of personal stuff” Jackson said. “He’d check on me and ask me if I was good. You need those every once and a while, the stuff that matters outside of ball. That is different.”

Jackson remembers attending an FCA event in which Swinney was a guest speaker. The four-star edge didn’t have any football buzz at the moment. He did come away with an impression of Swinney that has stuck with him years later.

“They had an FCA thing and I went and watched him speak before I had any of the buzz or offers and from that, I was like I’d love to play for that guy,” Jackson said. “He’s a good dude.”

Jackson plans on returning to Clemson for the spring game on April 15. He also is planning on taking an official visit to Clemson in the summer. He hasn’t locked in the date as of now.

Jackson isn’t shy about where the Tigers stand in his recruitment. They’re in contention.

“They’re in my top three,” Jackson said.

The post Top 100 EDGE Christopher Jackson’s bond with Clemson ‘different’ appeared first on On3.