Tennessee makes the cut for four-star linebacker

Another blue-chip prospect has Tennessee among his favorite schools this week. Four-star linebacker Ian Jackson out of Prattville, Alabama included Tennessee in his list of top ten schools.

Nebraska, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State, Louisville, Alabama and Texas A&M were also on Jackson’s list.

Jackson is listed at 6-1, 208 pounds. He’s listed as an outside linebacker prospect, but would likely play more inside in Tennessee’s 3-4 system. Jackson is the 242nd ranked player in the 2021 class, per 247Sports. He’s the 19th ranked outside linebacker prospect in the country and the 9th ranked prospect coming out of the state of Alabama.

Tennessee offered Jackson in January of 2018 during a junior day event in Knoxville.

As a junior, Jackson racked up 91 tackles — 18 of which went for a loss. He added six sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. His highlight tape shows off his versatility, working off the edge, as a defensive back and as a traditional off-ball linebacker. His ability to play in space is his main appeal right now, with some even believing that Jackson could play as a safety at the next level. He will clearly have to bulk up if he’s going to hold up in the middle of a front seven, but the baseline skillset here is obvious.