NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Second-year Tennessee Titans security Matthew Jackson’s first NFL snap is one he’ll at all times keep in mind. Having grown up in a housing complicated referred to as CWA Plaza within the shadows of Nissan Stadium, the Titans’ dwelling was in eyesight of his residence — the place all he needed to do was cross the road to be on the premises.
So when Jackson lined up alongside veteran kicker Nick People as a part of the protection unit for the season-opening kickoff in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, the one factor he may consider was how electrifying the setting was on the Caesars Superdome as he donned the colours of the crew that he grew up envying, and every part appeared like a film.
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“That was in all probability the most important environment of my life,” Jackson informed ESPN. “You do not overlook when the brilliant lights are on and that was in all probability the loudest stadium I ever performed in.”
The Superdome attendance dwarfed the dimensions crowds Jackson was used to enjoying in entrance of in school at Japanese Kentucky. And there undoubtedly weren’t waves of individuals piling in to observe Jackson play at Hillsboro Excessive College in Nashville.
Jackson was born in Chicago, however he moved to Nashville along with his mother and brother when he was a 12 months previous.
His mom, Andrea Clark, had Jackson on the age of 19. She obtained a full scholarship by means of the United Negro School Fund to attend Fisk College in Nashville on the time, but it surely required her to begin faculty quickly after taking a 12 months off. So she moved south, the place she labored a customer support job on prime of faculty to make ends meet as soon as they arrived.
It wasn’t till the primary grade that Jackson began enjoying organized soccer. Clark wanted to seek out an outlet that allowed her son to burn off further vitality. Jackson’s lecturers used to name Clark typically as a result of they felt he was disrupting the training surroundings.
“I put him in soccer so I would not lose my job,” Clark mentioned. “I wished to forestall myself from having to maintain leaving work.”
Soccer follow was the outlet Jackson wanted.
“Soccer was a solution that I did not know I used to be praying for as a result of I used to be like, ‘I do not know easy methods to deal with him,'” Clark mentioned. “He is at all times been so excessive vitality.”
JACKSON WAS A standout in monitor and subject as an extended jumper along with soccer throughout his highschool days.
Attending a magnet faculty like Hillsboro provided Jackson the chance to get away from the kind of neighborhood he grew up in. He needed to stand up early within the morning to take two metropolis busses to get to highschool.
“Understanding the place I grew up, the place I used to be going to go to, so far as what zone faculty I used to be in, I knew it was a greater alternative,” Jackson mentioned. “I may have ended up just like the common statistics, both being shot useless or gang banging at my zone faculty and never taking the good method or the profession path.”
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Jackson admittedly did not get the identical consideration as among the extra outstanding Nashville space highschool soccer gamers. Whereas different native gamers in Jackson’s class obtained affords from larger faculties, applications like Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State together with Murray State, Samford, UT Martin got here calling for him.
Jackson’s dad, Brian, who nonetheless resides in Chicago, merely informed him he’d simply need to work just a little more durable than a few of his friends. Finally Jackson determined to play for Japanese Kentucky the place he moved to linebacker. That is when issues actually began to return collectively.
As a redshirt junior, Jackson began six out of eight video games in 2020 the place he had 79 tackles, and he cemented himself as a professional prospect the next season when he earned the primary of two consecutive All-Atlantic Solar Convention alternatives. A career-high 102 tackles in 2021 landed Jackson because the Atlantic Solar Convention defensive participant of the 12 months and Buck Buchanan Award finalist, which is given to prime FCS defensive participant.
The ultimate 12 months at Japanese Kentucky was ok to realize invitations to school all star video games just like the Dream Bowl and the Nationwide Gridiron Showcase. However Jackson was with out an agent since most of them deserted him after he suffered a concussion halfway by means of his senior season.
Native agent Zach Spires, from Aspires Sports activities Administration, came upon about Jackson by means of a consumer named Shedrick Kirk. Jackson and Kirk, who performs for the Nashville Kats Enviornment Soccer crew, skilled collectively at X3 Efficiency and Bodily Remedy Middle in Nashville.
Jackson’s dad and mom paid for his coaching at X3. His dad, who additionally performed highschool soccer, noticed the imaginative and prescient and saved up cash through the years. Clark took on a second job to assist cowl the bills. X3 was their selection as a result of they wished Jackson to remain near Nashville the place he had a help system to assist along with his daughter, Summer season, who’s now 3.
Japanese Kentucky’s professional day was subsequent, with 12 groups in attendance, none of which have been the Titans. However Titans scouting coordinator Patrick Woo had his eyes on Jackson and helped get him to the crew’s native professional day. Security coach Scott Booker, who has since moved on to the Buffalo Payments, additionally took curiosity in Jackson.
Regardless of enjoying outdoors linebacker in school, Jackson examined nicely in security drills leading to he, and Colton Dowell, being requested to remain after the professional day to speak with then-coach Mike Vrabel.
The Titans chosen Dowell, a large receiver out of Tennessee-Martin within the seventh spherical, and like Jackson, Dowell attended highschool (Wilson Central) regionally. Jackson signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent, becoming a member of Japanese Kentucky teammate TK McLendon Jr.
“I feel the Titans have been one of the best match, so we acquired that deal accomplished,” Spires informed ESPN. “We had just a few undrafted free agent contract affords, and the Titans simply wished him to return to minicamp.”
Native product Matthew Jackson on making the #Titans 53-man roster. pic.twitter.com/jloqJK2qvo
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 31, 2023
JACKSON HAS FOND recollections from attending Titans video games as a child. He remembers the glory days of Chris Johnson, who turned the sixth participant in NFL historical past to hurry for two,000 yards in a season in 2009, and seeing former 2015 No. 2 decide Marcus Mariota’s profession get off to a sizzling begin in Tennessee as nicely. When he was in highschool, Jackson turned a fan of former Titans security Kevin Byard III — who was traded final season to the Philadelphia Eagles — as a result of they performed the identical place.
Earlier than the commerce, Jackson’s locker was straight throughout from Byard. It was an ideal alternative to study from among the best. Byard invited Jackson to coach with Jeremy Holt, of AthElite Efficiency in Nashville, to arrange for coaching camp.
The additional work paid off as Jackson secured a spot on the 53-man roster. However cutdown day was a rollercoaster experience.
Jackson was on the rookie resort when his telephone rang. A Titans consultant informed him to report back to Vrabel’s workplace. Jackson walked in and Vrabel was sitting there with common supervisor Ran Carthon.
As an alternative of main off with an announcement like, “You made the crew,” Carthon and Vrabel identified issues Jackson wanted to work on. At that time, Jackson embraced what would come subsequent — even when that meant he was getting launched. Then they informed him he made the preliminary 53-man roster.
“It was only a dream come true at that time,” Jackson mentioned.
Jackson performed totally on particular groups and completed with six tackles in 10 video games final season. Getting into Yr 2, Jackson will seemingly work with the second unit at security behind starter Amani Hooker when the Titans report for coaching camp on July 23.
Regardless of transferring to Nashville as a toddler, Jackson mentioned he “type of grew up as a Bears fan” as nicely. So just a little further could also be on the road when the Titans open the season on the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8. “That must be an enormous one,” Jackson mentioned with a smile.
