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Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson could be the most underrated player on this year’s Kentucky football team.
He has played in 39 career games, including 23 starts that includes 21 straight. He was Kentucky’s leading tackler in 2022 and 2023 and last season he had 89 tackles (ninth in the SEC) that included 8.5 tackles for loss. He also had two interceptions — he returned one for a touchdown — and four pass breakups.
Jackson was one of the players that Kentucky coach Mark Stoops took to SEC Media Days and rather than touting what he’s done, he started his interview session by thanking media members.
“I just want to say, thank you all for having me. For me just to come out and represent my brothers back home in Lexington and coming to represent them in a good way and just really I’m dedicating this season to my grandmother that just passed in April. Just really, really trying to live her dream that she had for me and always put God first,” Jackson said.
Jackson is excited about Kentucky’s upcoming season with what the Cats have both on defense and offense.
“I think we’re going to complement each other very well this year with the offense that coach Bush (Hamdan) has brought. It’s very complementary to the defense to help us out and we can help them out, vice versa,” Jackson said.
Jackson understands what coach Mark Stoops has been saying about wanting more from Kentucky this season than the Cats have done during 7-6 finishes the last two years.
“I think that’s the best mindset to have. Even if you winning or losing, you always want more. You just want more. Even in life you just want more,” Jackson said. “Just for us as a team I think we can just build off of what he’s done these past couple of years. We just have to make that next step to get to the next step.”
The best step would be to qualify for the new 12-team national championship playoff. Jackson likes the opportunity the expanded field gives a team like Kentucky.
“I think the 12 teams is good for college football, for all teams because it just gives you that extra hype,” Jackson said. “You still have the hype already, but it gives you that extra jump like we still can make it because it’s 12 teams now.”
Jackson said he focused on his speed and football IQ during the offseason.
“Just focusing on getting sideline to sideline this year and just keep building my IQ, keep building my IQ up and keep getting better,” he said.
Stoops’ demeanor helps motivate Jackson to want to be the best he can be.
“He’s very real with us and what he is saying, we come to meetings. He tells us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear,” Jackson said. “He is also a good person to be around. For me, my personal experience with him from everything he said he will do for me, he has done. Just being around him, he’s a good man.”
