Jackson talks Stanford commitment
2015 defensive lineman Dylan Jackson was committed to the University Tennessee and enjoying some time on the beach last summer when he received a phone call that changed his recruitment.
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Stanford was on the other line, informing the three-star defensive end that they were offering him a scholarship. Right then and there, the Cardinal became a contender for his services.
"(I knew they were a contender) right as they offered," Jackson said. "I obviously already knew a lot about Stanford. I knew it was a great academic school. So when I first got that offer my ears kind of of perked up and I was like, 'Ah, this could change things up a little bit.' That was pretty neat."
Jackson was right. The Stanford offer did shake up his recruitment.
About seven-and-a-half months after picking up the Stanford offer, and several months after he decomitted from the University of Tennessee, Jackson decided to join the Cardinal program. He called Stanford's coaches on Sunday night to inform them of his decision to commit.
"I called three coaches," Jackson said. "The first one I called was Coach Shaw. He was the one I told initially. He was really excited. He was really pumped. He said it was a great day, a great day for me, a great day for my family, a great day for Stanford Cardinal. He was really excited.
"And then Coach Hart, he seemed like he was about to jump out of his seat he was so happy. He's a great coach.
"And then Coach Turner, he gave me a call, actually, because I just got off the phone with Coach Hart. I talked to him for a few minutes about it all. We were really pumped."
Ultimately, Stanford's academic opportunities proved too enticing for Jackson to pass up.
"That education is hard to beat," Jackson said. "It's one of those places, just like they say, 'It's not a four-year decision, it's a 40-year decision.' This decision is going to impact me in the rest of my life, what career I have, and I think it's the best fit for me and the rest of my future."
Jackson will play defensive end in Stanford's 3-4 scheme when he arrives on campus. He could be see the field early in his Cardinal career.
"They said that playing time really comes down to me," Jackson said. "I could redshirt, it really just depends how my body works and how ready I am mentally to step up to the task. When I get on campus I'm going to bust my rear end out there and do all I can to the best of my ability to go out there and play as soon as possible."
If all goes according to plan, Stanford hopes that Jackson can develop into a difference maker along the lines of former Stanford standout defensive end Henry Anderson.
"(They compared me to) Henry Anderson," Jackson said. "That's one that Coach Hart brought up many times... That means a lot because Henry is an amazing athlete. When I went on my (official visit for the USC game in September) I hung out with him for a little bit. He's a really cool guy and a great athlete."
Hart and Tennessee area recruiter Morgan Turner were the two coaches most involved in Jackson's recruitment.
"They're both great coaches," Jackson said. "Coach Hart is my position coach, obviously, so I really have to get to know him. Coach Turner is my area coach. He's just one of those cool coaches that comes out and talks to to you, talks to you as a friend more than just a coach. He talked to me less about football and more about school and just how I'm doing there. They gave me challenges to push myself in the classroom just to be able to get accepted into the university."
Jackson ended up meeting those challenges. He learned that he had been admitted to Stanford a few weeks ago.
"It was so cool when I got that call from Coach Shaw," Jackson said. "He said that I had been accepted, When he said those words (it lifted) a huge burden off my shoulders. I put a lot of hard work into that into the ACT, into my school work and my AP classes, so it was really nice getting that phone call and being relieved."
With his admission to the school secured, perhaps the last thing standing between Jackson and a Stanford commitment was something completely out of the Cardinal's control: the distance between Stanford and Jackson's home in Tennessee.
"That was really the thing that made me hesitant about committing," Jackson said. "But at the end I knew it was the right decision because, like I said, this will affect me in the rest of my life. (Stanford provides) thousands of opportunities to be successful in the real world. It's four to five years of my life and we can get through it. It's going to hurt a little bit but I'm sure I'll get used to it."
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