2024 DE Christopher (CJ) Jackson (6-4 220) of Tucker, GA has been on Clemson’s radar for about two months drawing interest from defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall. Jackson visited Clemson during the summer and talked with Hall who wanted to see more of him and develop a relationship before extending an offer. All of that happened over time, and Jackson landed his offer on November 19th on a visit for the Miami game.
“I’ve been talking to Coach Hall for about a month and a half,” Jackson said. “He told me straight up that he doesn’t offer a lot of guys, but if he feels like I’m the right fit for the program, and I’ come up there a couple of times and he gets to know me and I get to know him, it will eventually come. That’s what happened.”
Clemson is one of the relatively early offers for Jackson, and it was one he was excited to land.
“I felt real good,” Jackson said. “Growing up watching Clemson, it’s not too far from Georgia, a straight shot from Atlanta. I liked the way they did it. They put me in a room with Coach Swinney himself and he personally gave me the offer. I felt like that was cool.”
Jackson went to a pair of games this season at Clemson, Miami and Syracuse, so he got a good look at the inner workings of the program. He came away thinking it’s a good fit for him in a lot of ways.
“They are big on family and doing stuff the right way,” Jackson said. “They have a 98% graduation rate, which I think is crazy. Almost everybody graduates, and I have pretty decent grades. I feel like I fit the part. And my game, I can stand up, come off the edge, outside linebacker, one of those hybrid guys nowadays that’s coming out that can play both standing up and hand on the ground.”
The Tigers will be looking to replenish their defensive end group after this season as it’s expected the bulk of those players will move on to the NFL. And that’s one of the attractive points about Clemson to Jackson, getting players to the next level.
“They are sending guys to the league, and that’s one of the things you look for when you are looking on where you’re trying to go,” Jackson said. “I feel like they develop their D-ends very well. They have a great coach in Coach Hall developing those guys getting them ready to play at the next level.”
In the last two months Jackson has also picked up offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Indiana and Coastal Carolina. He’s got Clemson right up at the to of the list at this point.
“Clemson is definitely up there,” Jackson said. “Clemson was one of those offers that I really, really wanted growing up watching them. They are up there. Also, Georgia obviously, that’s hometown. Indiana was one of the first ones to say I have a place. And Ole Miss for sure.”
Jackson, who had 11 sacks this season, has also visited North Carolina, Mississippi State, Florida State and Georgia. He plans to make more visits in the months ahead, including a return trip to Clemson. He’s looking at making his decision in the summer.
