As Walk -on in Georgia, Dan Jackson’s fastest path to Excel playing time in special teams – and he never did it.
THE Detroit lions Taken Jackson, a security that blocked a kick and a clearance of clearance in his university career, around 7 of the NFL 2025 draft, at No. 240 in total.
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“In special teams, I am ready to play anywhere,” said Jackson at a video conference with Detroit journalists. “This is how I started in Georgia. It was my goal to be on the field and contribute to the team anyway that I could and it’s my same goal and the same aspirations now.”
The defensive back of Georgia Bulldogs, Dan Jackson (17) reacts after a turnover on Downs against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at the Sanford Stadium in Athens, in Georgia, on November 29, 2024.
Shawn Windsor: Instant project grade: Detroit Lions enters athletic security with the turn 7
Jackson was a basic player in the special teams for most of his Four Four Seasons with the Bulldogs before winning a departure security work last year, and the director general of Lions, Brad Holmes, said the profile of the special teams of Jackson – and that of the choice of Tour 7, the recipient of Georgie Dominic Lovet – was part of what attracted the lions.
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Jackson blocked a basket against Auburn last season and a clearance of clearance against Arkansas in 2021. Livett, who played his first two academic seasons in Missouri, played as a shooter of the Georgia covers.
“I may have joke in the past that in the last laps (the coordinator of the special teams Dave) FIPP could probably come and execute the project just because it is so (important),” said Holmes. “But look, when the guy wins a role in the teams and he is good enough to be part of the depth, so he has a good opportunity to go to the game.”
The Lions refer the best security tandem to the NFL of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, but Jackson should compete for work n ° 3 on a depth of otherwise thin this fall.
Captain of Georgia last season, he started 13 games, made 64 plated, had two interceptions and forced an escape.
The former defensive rear of Georgia, Dan Jackson (17) seeks to take the ball during the professional day in Athens, in Georgia, Wednesday March 12, 2025.
“I think the three main things I have always proud are that I am fast, I’m physical and I’m hard,” said Jackson. “And the accent put on the last there. I think that is why I could have success at the university that I had. I can’t wait to be part of the culture of the Lions they built and I am just extremely excited to be part of it.”
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With Jackson and Lovett, the Lions took another Georgia product in this year’s draft, Tate Rutledge guard in the second round.
Jackson said he had chosen to go to Georgia as a walk-on from high school rather than playing elsewhere on scholarships, because it gave him the best chance of winning and competing with higher competition. The experience, he said, “transformed me into the player I am today” and helped him be written.
“I’m really blessed to be in this position,” said Jackson. “I worked very hard to get here, but I also had a lot of help along the way. Many of that was with me today, just my family and my friends and I can’t be more excited than me right now.”
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit lions: An illustrated chronology. “”
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Contact him to [email protected]. Follow him Bluesky,, X And Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit lions boost special teams with a pair of georgia stars
