After a long recruiting process, Jackson Jones has officially committed to Texas Christian University (TCU), which is located on the outskirts of Fort Worth, Texas.
Over the last few years, he has attended over 40 football camps and visited more than 20 programs. Jackson has received 13 Division I offers, including Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech, Kansas State, Baylor, Tulane, Duke, Houston, Purdue, Southern Miss, Louisiana, Liberty and Nicholls State, while drawing interest from schools such as LSU, Georgia, Missouri, Florida State, Ohio State and Oklahoma.
Jones is the son of Steve and Lisa Jones and brother to Morgan and Macey Jones. His grandparents are Wright and Diane Duncan and Pam and the late Everett Jones. Jackson is a 2025 student at Pine High School and previously attended elementary school at Columbia Academy, where his sisters graduated.
The Jones family is no stranger to the recruiting process, as both of their girls, Morgan and Macey were recruited for college basketball. The Joneses agree that their kids have had a lot of opportunity, but they are firm believers in “to whom much is given, much is required.” Anyone that knows the Jones kids’ parents knows that they are very demanding and are equally as intense.
Steve admits most people couldn’t make it in the Jones household, saying, “most would be crying before breakfast.”
In a day and age of instant gratification, they still believe in hard work, dedication and keeping your word. “Say what you mean and do what you say!”
On Jackson’s journey, there were many times of discouragement, with only hard workouts to keep him company. Jackson was in medical boots multiple times in middle school with foot, ankle and knee issues due to extreme growth plate pain from prolonged periods of growth. This caused him several setbacks throughout his years of development, but Jackson stayed focused on his mobility, strength and flexibility, which prepared him to take advantage of opportunities when the door was opened.
"You have to prepare in advance for opportunities because it’s too late to start packing your bag once the train is pulling out of the station," Steve Jones said.
Jackson began his love for football around the age of 5. His parents remember him falling asleep on the couch with his football helmet on and holding his football while watching the big game on Saturdays. He began playing football in the second grade with Pine Football Association, and over the next six years, he won two league championships. Then he played peewee football at the same time at Columbia Academy in the fourth, fifth and sixth grade where in his first game, which was against Parklane Academy, he got a fumble recovery, pancake block and a touchdown all on the same play.
Jackson transferred to Pine in the seventh grade, where he started on the team that won back-to-back junior high championships and was an integral part of his high school team, helping them to reach their first 10-win season in school history this past year.
In June 2023, Jones attended a mega camp at TCU. After running a 1.85 second 10-yard dash and completing the agility drills with his impressive 6-foot-4, 295-pound frame and remarkable 7-foot wing span, Jackson drew immediate attention from lots of coaches. That night, his phone and Twitter began to blow up. His parents knew then that his recruitment just hit another level.
After further evaluation, TCU’s offensive line coach, AJ Ricker, contacted Jackson after camp and offered him a football scholarship. Jackson had the phone on speaker so Steve could listen in.
After the call, Jackson remembered his dad looking at him and saying, “Dude, do you realize that the No. 2 team in the nation just offered you?”
Steve remembered Jackson replying with his super calm demeanor “yeah” with a slight smile, which meant he was ecstatic. That offer came just months after TCU’s National Championship appearance, which says a lot about what the coaches saw in Jackson.
Jackson says although TCU is a prestigious university in a city of endless opportunities, it still manages to feel like home to someone used to a more rural setting, being only 20 minutes from where the true west begins and 20 minutes from downtown Fort Worth. The fact that TCU was founded on Christian principals is very important to him.
"It just fits.” Jackson said. “My decision is definitely about the right fit for me.”
TCU is located in the DFW Metroplex, which is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. With a population of more than eight million, the city, along with the TCU network, offers endless career opportunities. Since 2000, TCU has had 13 10-win seasons, more than anyone else in the state of Texas, and has won 18 bowl games. TCU is one of only eight schools to win a College Football Playoff game, and they are the only one from the Big 12. TCU has also played in each of the New Year's Six bowl games, which only five other programs have accomplished.
TCU football is not just a college program — it’s a breeding ground for NFL excellence. Over the last 21 seasons, the Horned Frogs have produced 63 NFL draft picks with 32 on active rosters, including 10 NFL offensive lineman, which is tied with Alabama, Georgia and Wisconsin, and is more than all FBS programs in the state of Mississippi combined. TCU has a $2.8 billon endowment to support approximately 13,000 students. As a comparison, LSU has an endowment fund of $1 billon for 40,000 students.
Since 2012, TCU has invested nearly $500 million in donor-funded facility upgrades. It is currently involved in a $50 million renovation of its athletic performance center, which will be complete before Jackson arrives on campus in June of 2025. TCU also has an awesome fan base with home games being sold out, selling approximately 3,000 additional standing room only tickets.
TCU is led by head coach Sonny Dykes, who has received 10 National Coach of the Year awards. Ricker has been nominated for the Broyles Award, presented to the top Assistant Coach. In the last two seasons, he has had five offensive lineman sign NFL contracts.
After a few visits to TCU and learning what they had to offer, it became obvious to Jackson that all other programs would be judged with TCU as the standard. To help make the final comparisons, Jackson crisscrossed the eastern half of the country to visit spring practices at 10 programs in 20 days.
In the end, TCU checked all the boxes!
- Power Conference – BIG 12
- Award-winning coaches
- Recent National Championship appearance
- Awesome developmental program, especially for offensive lineman
- Has more offensive lineman on current NFL rosters than all FBS programs in the state of Mississippi combined
- Friendly student body
- Devoted “athletic friendly” staff
- Large committed fan base
- TCU is ranked No. 1 for happiest students
- TCU was founded on Christian values
Ultimately in the end “it just feels like home.”
GO FROGS!!!!
