Tyner senior Josh Jackson isn’t setting any limits on where football might eventually take him, and he’s certainly not listening to anyone who doubts his potential.
Now he knows what the next step is, though, and he’s excited to continue his journey.
Jackson has committed to Southeast Missouri State University, which he announced Thursday afternoon on his Twitter account, and the 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback’s decision to join the Redhawks brings together an athlete and a college program with similar stories of recent progress after earlier frustration.
“The recruitment process was very difficult. I did not know if the opportunity was there at first,” Jackson said. “All I knew was I had to keep working. I was overlooked in so many ways that it kept me mentally poised and determined. I am very excited about committing because this is the new becomings of my journey and career.”
After having little success for most of their first three decades in Division I, the Redhawks have made the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs three of the past five seasons — with one of the misses during the pandemic-altered season that moved from fall 2020 to spring 2021 — and won a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title in 2019 and again last fall.
Meanwhile, Jackson went from nearly giving up football halfway through high school to a special senior season, one in which he helped lead the Rams to the program’s first state championship in a quarter-century and was selected as the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football honoree for Class 2A this past fall.
Just as Jackson was prepared to walk away from football to focus on basketball, the arrival of Scott Chandler as Tyner’s head football coach in spring 2021 brought with it a new spread offense that favored Jackson’s strengths. Chandler, though, also saw Jackson’s new dedication to the sport.
He became the team’s starting quarterback as a junior and helped Tyner reach the playoffs, but the result was familiar for the Rams as their season ended with a loss to Trousdale County for the fourth year in a row and in the first round for the second straight season.
“His work ethic, number one, made the difference. He worked every day to get better, starting the day after we had lost to Trousdale in the (2021) playoffs,” Chandler said. “Josh and his receivers were out throwing and working together pretty much every day, even after basketball practice and during the summer when we weren’t doing anything as a team.”
As a senior, Jackson totaled nearly 3,600 yards and 46 touchdowns to lead Tyner to a 14-1 record and a thrilling 26-24 comeback victory over Decatur-Riverside in the BlueCross Bowl state championship game at Finley Stadium on Dec. 3. Jackson averaged 2.8 touchdown passes and more than 220 passing yards per game despite often not playing in the third or fourth quarter because of substantial leads for Tyner. The Rams outscored their opposition 564-124 on the way to winning the program’s second state title, with the first in 1997.
With his junior season factored in, Jackson threw for more than 5,100 yards, rushed for more than 500 yards and scored 60 touchdowns while throwing only eight interceptions in 26 varsity games.
“I feel like I haven’t even approached my full potential yet,” Jackson said. “I am constantly working, and my potential is constantly rising. My goals were always to better myself and help the younger generation, because they are the next ones coming up.”
Amid his record-breaking senior season on the gridiron, Jackson was a straight-A student — his cumulative GPA is 3.5 — and he also has a YouTube show called “Real Reality Vidzz” with football teammate Zashun Hubbard where the two talk about life as student-athletes and give feedback to the community.
In his limited free time away from training, practice and competition, Jackson also goes to local community centers to help teach younger kids to play sports.
“I feel very blessed that the younger generation looks up to me,” Jackson said. “I strive to be a great role model. There are not a lot of younger teens out there that understand this, and I wish more would.”
It was as a young football player that Jackson began to show his drive. Chandler said Jackson was a center at the youth league level and was motivated by those who told him he couldn’t play quarterback.
“He could have taken everything that’s happened to him and used that as a victim mentality,” Chandler said. “Instead, he used it to make something of himself and was determined. He carried a chip on his shoulder because a lot of people told him what he couldn’t do.”
At Southeast Missouri State, that attitude should fit right in. The Redhawks went 9-3 overall and 5-0 in the OVC this past season, their ninth under coach Tom Matukewicz, and when the final FCS polls were released earlier this month, they were ranked 13th by coaches and were No. 15 in the Stats Perform Top 25.
The Redhawks’ Division I era began in 1991, and they had winning records in just three of 27 seasons before back-to-back 9-4 marks in 2018-19. Their latest postseason appearance ended with a first-round loss and the program has never been beyond the second round in the FCS playoffs, but Jackson will undoubtedly be eager to attempt to help set new standards.
“They’re excited about getting him because they knew what type player he was on the field, but once they met him they saw the person he is and they acted quick on offering,” said Chandler, who accompanied Jackson on his recruiting visit. “I think now he’s out to prove a lot of people wrong who said he couldn’t play at the next level.”
There’s more work ahead, but Jackson has already proven he can handle challenges.
“I want to keep making my granny proud,” Jackson said of his late loved one, who has fueled his drive to be great. “My goals are to study physical education, put together a great college football career and go pro. I want to keep proving the doubters wrong.”
CCS star picks Gators
Chattanooga Christian School senior Jordan Gile committed to Florida on Wednesday.
The left-handed quarterback will be a preferred walk-on with the Gators this fall after helping lead the Chargers to 10 wins and the TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinals last year, the deepest postseason run in program history.
Gile completed 147 of 199 (.738) of his passes for 2,741 yards and 28 touchdowns, and he rushed for more than 300 yards and averaged close to 10 yards per carry.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.