Jackson 'Is What College Football Is All About'
December 01, 2024 | Football
By Kyle Tatelbaum
Georgia Sports Communications
Georgia's nail-biting 44-42 win over Georgia Tech in eight overtimes last Friday night had a multitude of twists and turns and standout performances. And the No. 7 Bulldogs likely wouldn't have won the longest game in SEC history without sixth-year safety Dan Jackson.
Approaching the two-minute timeout in the fourth quarter with a 27-20 lead, the Yellow Jackets needed a yard for a first down to help put the game away. On third-and-1 at the Tech 31-yard line, quarterback Haynes King ran into the pile at the line of scrimmage. In that pile was Jackson, the former walk-on, who knocked the ball loose. Linebacker Chaz Chambliss was there to recover the fumble for a game-changing turnover,
"Man, to think that guy came to Georgia on his own without us even recruiting (him) and to make the plays he's made, that hit-fumble will be one for the ages," head coach Kirby Smart said following the Bulldogs' seventh straight win over Tech.
Georgia capitalized on the takeaway, tying the game with 1:01 remaining on quarterback Carson Beck's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dominic Lovett. Overtime soon followed and kept going and going.
As the game moved into the sixth overtime and the clock struck midnight, Jackson turned 24 years old. Jackson delivered another present for Georgia, streaking past the Yellow Jacket offensive line to sack King. Jackson finished the game with six tackles, though the sack didn't count in the official stats.
"Dan always plays with everything he has," Chambliss said. "Words can't express what he means to me and our team."
Jackson, a former standout multi-sport athlete at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Ga., walked on at Georgia in 2019, redshirting his first year and spending his second season on the scout team. In 2021, when the Bulldogs won the first of their back-to-back national championships, Jackson was a key contributor on what's regarded as one of the best defenses ever, finishing seventh on the team with 40 tackles.
A major foot injury ended his 2022 season after seven games, and he returned in 2023, finishing with 20 tackles and an interception in 11 games as a reserve. Jackson was granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned for his super senior season in 2024.
In his final season, Jackson has been one of the defense's most important players. Heading into Saturday's SEC Championship Game against No 3 Texas, he ranks third on the team with 56 tackles and leads the team with two interceptions. Smart said he had a lot of respect for Jackson as a player and a person.
"He didn't even have to come back this year — he debated whether he was going to play football again this year, I think about where we would be without him," Smart said.
"You look at a guy like Dan Jackson, he is what college football is all about, guys. He's not asking for more money, he's not trying to go somewhere else, the guy just loves Georgia."
Georgia pride has flowed through Jackson's blood since well before his first time between the hedges. He grew up the son of a die-hard Bulldogs fan and the grandson of a Georgia graduate. Jackson and his family frequently made the drive to Athens for home games, and he spent countless hours outside with his brothers throwing the football and dreaming of one day suiting up in red and black.
Now, Jackson is one of Georgia's most valuable players and a leader on the field. Linebacker Jalon Walker praised Jackson for his crucial play late in the game.
"Very big," Walker said. "Like, he knew he had to leave all of it on the line for his last game of his senior year in Sanford Stadium."
Georgia Sports Communications
Georgia's nail-biting 44-42 win over Georgia Tech in eight overtimes last Friday night had a multitude of twists and turns and standout performances. And the No. 7 Bulldogs likely wouldn't have won the longest game in SEC history without sixth-year safety Dan Jackson.
Approaching the two-minute timeout in the fourth quarter with a 27-20 lead, the Yellow Jackets needed a yard for a first down to help put the game away. On third-and-1 at the Tech 31-yard line, quarterback Haynes King ran into the pile at the line of scrimmage. In that pile was Jackson, the former walk-on, who knocked the ball loose. Linebacker Chaz Chambliss was there to recover the fumble for a game-changing turnover,
"Man, to think that guy came to Georgia on his own without us even recruiting (him) and to make the plays he's made, that hit-fumble will be one for the ages," head coach Kirby Smart said following the Bulldogs' seventh straight win over Tech.
Georgia capitalized on the takeaway, tying the game with 1:01 remaining on quarterback Carson Beck's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dominic Lovett. Overtime soon followed and kept going and going.
As the game moved into the sixth overtime and the clock struck midnight, Jackson turned 24 years old. Jackson delivered another present for Georgia, streaking past the Yellow Jacket offensive line to sack King. Jackson finished the game with six tackles, though the sack didn't count in the official stats.
"Dan always plays with everything he has," Chambliss said. "Words can't express what he means to me and our team."
Jackson, a former standout multi-sport athlete at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Ga., walked on at Georgia in 2019, redshirting his first year and spending his second season on the scout team. In 2021, when the Bulldogs won the first of their back-to-back national championships, Jackson was a key contributor on what's regarded as one of the best defenses ever, finishing seventh on the team with 40 tackles.
A major foot injury ended his 2022 season after seven games, and he returned in 2023, finishing with 20 tackles and an interception in 11 games as a reserve. Jackson was granted an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned for his super senior season in 2024.
In his final season, Jackson has been one of the defense's most important players. Heading into Saturday's SEC Championship Game against No 3 Texas, he ranks third on the team with 56 tackles and leads the team with two interceptions. Smart said he had a lot of respect for Jackson as a player and a person.
"He didn't even have to come back this year — he debated whether he was going to play football again this year, I think about where we would be without him," Smart said.
"You look at a guy like Dan Jackson, he is what college football is all about, guys. He's not asking for more money, he's not trying to go somewhere else, the guy just loves Georgia."
Georgia pride has flowed through Jackson's blood since well before his first time between the hedges. He grew up the son of a die-hard Bulldogs fan and the grandson of a Georgia graduate. Jackson and his family frequently made the drive to Athens for home games, and he spent countless hours outside with his brothers throwing the football and dreaming of one day suiting up in red and black.
Now, Jackson is one of Georgia's most valuable players and a leader on the field. Linebacker Jalon Walker praised Jackson for his crucial play late in the game.
"Very big," Walker said. "Like, he knew he had to leave all of it on the line for his last game of his senior year in Sanford Stadium."
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