Coach and players glad to have Drake Jackson back sharing his expertise with Cats

Drake Jackson was always able to absorb coaching as a player. (Vicky Graff Photo)

He was a three-year starter at Kentucky and a fixture at center in the Big Blue Wall for some special UK wins. Now Drake Jackson is back with the UK football team as a graduate assistant coach under new offensive line coach Zach Yenser and coach Mark Stoops is glad to have him.

“It’s a guy I have known since he was going into his freshman year (of high school),” Stoops said. “Every year he came back to camp. He went to a lot of camps and just absorbed the coaching.”

“You could tell then he would be a great coach because he was eaten up with it. He has a lot of experience to share. Most players cannot take things in like he was able to do as a high school freshman. I have watched him and saw how special he was.”

Kentucky redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jager Burton says it is “awesome” to have Jackson help coach him. Jackson was one of those who helped Burton when he moved to the offensive line in high school and helped teach him how to pass block.

“He was always spreading and sharing the knowledge he had. I always heard how much of a student of the game he was here,” Burton said. “I missed playing with him by a year here. Seeing the dedication he has, you just know that guy is going to be a great head coach one day.”

Burton grew up a Kentucky football fan and knows commitments from in-state stars Landon Young, Kash Daniel and Jackson helped solidify Stoops’ future at UK.

“They helped coach Stoops flip the program around d here.  You never know how things might have been if they had not come here,” Burton said. “I’m grateful they did and grateful to have him back coaching us.”