Quick Chat: Kearis Jackson
November 17, 2022 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Kearis Jackson was born in December 1999, roughly 11 years after the movie "Action Jackson" was released. The film starred Carl Weathers as a cool, do-it-his-own-way Detroit cop and Craig T. Nelson as a typical 1980s over-the-top villain.
Why, you are rightly asking, is any of that relevant? The other day, Jackson, Georgia's talented fifth-year senior receiver, was wearing a red t-shirt that read "Kearis" with "Action Jackson" underneath. And to my surprise, Jackson had actually seen the movie, which is a bit of a cult classic but surely not something most 22-year-olds have watched.
Jackson is a man of action on and off the field. He has 74 career receptions, including a season-high six for 69 yards last week at Mississippi State, and has regularly been the Bulldogs' return man during his career. Jackson has also been busy in the community and with serving on things like the SEC Football Leadership Council, he was one of the student representatives on the UGA Athletics Board of Directors, and he been named to the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
During a recent Quick Chat, Jackson, from Fort Valley, Ga., talked about being a leader on and off the field, how much he admires his mother, Kimberly McGhee, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What was it like the first time you went home after Georgia won the national championship last season?
Jackson: The first time going home, I was surprised just how many businesses around had my name on the signs outside their buildings. I was excited about that and just knowing how many kids were looking up to me.
Actually, my first time going home was to a (Peach County High School) basketball game. They had recognized me for being a national champ, and just coming back and receiving all of that love meant a lot. The people had seen me on TV winning a national championship, but to see me in person and to feel the love, to see the kids looking up to me and the older people having a certain type of respect for me, it meant a lot.
It also means that I have to carry myself a certain type of way. Just knowing that I'm having a positive effect with what I'm doing off the field and on the field, it motivates them to keep going.
Frierson: What has been your best moment of your life away from football?
Jackson: I'll say when my momma won teacher of the year at her school. Just that moment, because my momma's been teaching since I was a kid. She had me at a very young age, around 18 or 19, so she started teaching, she's on year 20 now, maybe, and all of these years of teaching — she's been promoted to different levels, but she never was the teacher of the year.
When I first got to high school, she was the teacher of the year at an elementary school in Macon. Then when I got to college, she went to a tougher type of school, where academics were really strong, and she won teacher of the year again. I was so excited for my mom to win that, honestly. For her to accomplish something like that at that level is big.
Frierson: Was that inspiring for you?
Jackson: It was definitely inspiring. I'm up for the (Good Works) community service award, and it kind of has the same feel — giving back, working with kids. It kind of correlates if you think about it. You have a heart that's for giving. When you have that special type of feeling in your heart, that you're not doing it for yourself, you're doing it for others, you're blessed in so many different ways.
Frierson: Are you trying to pass that kind of mentality along to your teammates and other people around campus?
Jackson: Oh, most definitely. Once you can pass that along, all you're doing is making the world better. When you have a positive mindset, a lot of positive thoughts going around, you're encouraging others to be great, as well. How the world is shaped right now, we need love. Once you give that love to someone else, and that person gives love to someone else, it just keeps the train moving.
Frierson: We've got Thanksgiving coming up soon, so what is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
Jackson: It's not really a Thanksgiving dish, it's just me in general, but I like collard greens. If it's just a Thanksgiving dish, I like the dressing. That's really good. It's the sweet bread that they have in it, all the ingredients like chopped up onions, bell peppers, everything all in there.
Frierson: Do you ever help out in the kitchen?
Jackson: No, sir. No chance at all. In high school, the thing was if you made it past Thanksgiving, your team was pretty good. So if you're practicing on Thanksgiving, you have an opportunity to play in the state championship game. We always had practice on Thanksgiving ever since I was in high school, so I was never around. Plus, my parents always started cooking early on Thanksgiving just to make sure everything was always done.
Frierson: When you graduated last December, was that as exciting and meaningful as you thought it was going to be?
Jackson: Absolutely, 100%. My intentions coming into college have really changed since I got here. As a recruit, you're always thinking that you're going to be here there years and then leave (for the NFL). I'm just being honest. But once you get here and things happen, things change, the mindset changes, so I was able to graduate.
That degree means a lot. And by me being here, I was able to realize how much a Georgia degree would mean. I took that serious and I was able to get that degree, and I was excited about it.
Frierson: How much do you think about coaching one day? I could see you being a good coach, or maybe doing something like Jonas Jennings (Georgia's Director of Player Development).
Jackson: I could see myself doing both, the coaching or doing what Jonas does. If Georgia gives me the opportunity, I'd love to come back home to work for them. I do see myself in some type of mentoring role, doing something positive.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Kearis Jackson was born in December 1999, roughly 11 years after the movie "Action Jackson" was released. The film starred Carl Weathers as a cool, do-it-his-own-way Detroit cop and Craig T. Nelson as a typical 1980s over-the-top villain.
Why, you are rightly asking, is any of that relevant? The other day, Jackson, Georgia's talented fifth-year senior receiver, was wearing a red t-shirt that read "Kearis" with "Action Jackson" underneath. And to my surprise, Jackson had actually seen the movie, which is a bit of a cult classic but surely not something most 22-year-olds have watched.
Jackson is a man of action on and off the field. He has 74 career receptions, including a season-high six for 69 yards last week at Mississippi State, and has regularly been the Bulldogs' return man during his career. Jackson has also been busy in the community and with serving on things like the SEC Football Leadership Council, he was one of the student representatives on the UGA Athletics Board of Directors, and he been named to the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
During a recent Quick Chat, Jackson, from Fort Valley, Ga., talked about being a leader on and off the field, how much he admires his mother, Kimberly McGhee, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What was it like the first time you went home after Georgia won the national championship last season?
Jackson: The first time going home, I was surprised just how many businesses around had my name on the signs outside their buildings. I was excited about that and just knowing how many kids were looking up to me.
Actually, my first time going home was to a (Peach County High School) basketball game. They had recognized me for being a national champ, and just coming back and receiving all of that love meant a lot. The people had seen me on TV winning a national championship, but to see me in person and to feel the love, to see the kids looking up to me and the older people having a certain type of respect for me, it meant a lot.
It also means that I have to carry myself a certain type of way. Just knowing that I'm having a positive effect with what I'm doing off the field and on the field, it motivates them to keep going.
Frierson: What has been your best moment of your life away from football?
Jackson: I'll say when my momma won teacher of the year at her school. Just that moment, because my momma's been teaching since I was a kid. She had me at a very young age, around 18 or 19, so she started teaching, she's on year 20 now, maybe, and all of these years of teaching — she's been promoted to different levels, but she never was the teacher of the year.
When I first got to high school, she was the teacher of the year at an elementary school in Macon. Then when I got to college, she went to a tougher type of school, where academics were really strong, and she won teacher of the year again. I was so excited for my mom to win that, honestly. For her to accomplish something like that at that level is big.
Frierson: Was that inspiring for you?
Jackson: It was definitely inspiring. I'm up for the (Good Works) community service award, and it kind of has the same feel — giving back, working with kids. It kind of correlates if you think about it. You have a heart that's for giving. When you have that special type of feeling in your heart, that you're not doing it for yourself, you're doing it for others, you're blessed in so many different ways.
Frierson: Are you trying to pass that kind of mentality along to your teammates and other people around campus?
Jackson: Oh, most definitely. Once you can pass that along, all you're doing is making the world better. When you have a positive mindset, a lot of positive thoughts going around, you're encouraging others to be great, as well. How the world is shaped right now, we need love. Once you give that love to someone else, and that person gives love to someone else, it just keeps the train moving.
Frierson: We've got Thanksgiving coming up soon, so what is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
Jackson: It's not really a Thanksgiving dish, it's just me in general, but I like collard greens. If it's just a Thanksgiving dish, I like the dressing. That's really good. It's the sweet bread that they have in it, all the ingredients like chopped up onions, bell peppers, everything all in there.
Frierson: Do you ever help out in the kitchen?
Jackson: No, sir. No chance at all. In high school, the thing was if you made it past Thanksgiving, your team was pretty good. So if you're practicing on Thanksgiving, you have an opportunity to play in the state championship game. We always had practice on Thanksgiving ever since I was in high school, so I was never around. Plus, my parents always started cooking early on Thanksgiving just to make sure everything was always done.
Frierson: When you graduated last December, was that as exciting and meaningful as you thought it was going to be?
Jackson: Absolutely, 100%. My intentions coming into college have really changed since I got here. As a recruit, you're always thinking that you're going to be here there years and then leave (for the NFL). I'm just being honest. But once you get here and things happen, things change, the mindset changes, so I was able to graduate.
That degree means a lot. And by me being here, I was able to realize how much a Georgia degree would mean. I took that serious and I was able to get that degree, and I was excited about it.
Frierson: How much do you think about coaching one day? I could see you being a good coach, or maybe doing something like Jonas Jennings (Georgia's Director of Player Development).
Jackson: I could see myself doing both, the coaching or doing what Jonas does. If Georgia gives me the opportunity, I'd love to come back home to work for them. I do see myself in some type of mentoring role, doing something positive.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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