2024 Football Roster
Jackson, Jaion
Jersey Number 19
Jaion Jackson
- Position:
- Defensive Back
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 160
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- East St. Louis, Ill.
- High School:
- East St. Louis H.S.
- Twitter:
- iiamj22
Bio
2024
As a true freshman defensive back, saw action in 12 games with nine starts at cornerback … Started the first seven consecutive games at cornerback … One of only five regular freshman starters at cornerback in the nation … Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2024 … Earned College Football Network Third Team All-MAC honors as a defensive back … Concluded season with 38 tackles (25 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss for 10 yards, and four pass breakups …Totaled at least one tackle in 10 of 12 games … Made three solo tackles in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … Made three tackles with a pass breakup at Toledo (11/12) … Made three tackles (two solo) at Miami (Ohio) (10/26) … Totaled five tackles (three solo) at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … Finished with four tackles (two solo), 1.5 tackles for loss for three yards and a pass breakup vs. Ohio (10/12) … Finished with five tackles (four solo) vs. San Diego State (9/28) … Registered a career-high six tackles (three solo), 1.0 tackle for loss for seven yards and a pass breakup vs. Ball State (9/21) … Made two tackles and a pass breakup at Illinois (9/14) … In first career start and debut, totaled five tackles (three solo) in season opener vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).
HIGH SCHOOL
A December 2023 graduate of East Saint Louis Senior High School, where he played four years of varsity football for head coach Darren Sunkett … Rated the No. 21 recruit on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 List … Played cornerback and returned kickoffs … Over 28-game career, finished with 167 tackles (109 solo), averaged 6.0 tackles per game, with five interceptions for 40 return yards on defense and 111 kickoff returns yards on two returns with one kickoff return touchdown … Made 84 total tackles (58 solo), intercepted a team-high four passes for 32 yards, returned a kickoff for a touchdown in 12 games as a senior … Led East St. Louis to a 10-3 overall record and conference title with perfect 5-0 record and Class 6A state title game appearance as a senior in 2023 … His team dropped a 23-20 loss to Cary-Grove in the state title game … Made nine tackles vs. Atasocita … Had eight tackles and an interception vs. BWHS … Made six tackles with an interception vs. Normal West … Finished with nine tackles vs. Edwardsville … Registered nine tackles with an interception vs. Kankakee … Ranked fourth on the team with 88 tackles (44 solo) with four interceptions in 11 games as a junior … Guided the Flyers to a 12-2 overall record, 5-0 conference record and league title, and Class 6A state championship as a junior … Part of a defense that allowed just 123 points in 14 games… Totaled 10 tackles vs. Edwardsville … Finished with 10 tackles vs. DSJHS … Registered 16 total tackles (10 solo) in five games as a sophomore … Team finished 11-3 overall with perfect 5-0 conference record as a sophomore … Played varsity football as a freshman … Rated a three-star by On3 … Rated a two-star recruit by 247sports.com and Rivals.com … Ranked the No. 49 recruit in the state of Illinois … Also played basketball.
PERSONAL
Born Jaion Jackson on October 4, 2005 … Son of Jason Hicks and Andrea Rucker … Has three brothers: DeAndre Fisher, Elvinn Pawnell, and Damon Pruitt … Hobbies and interests include football, training, and eating … Committed to Central Michigan on April 2, 2023 … Selected Central Michigan over offers from Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Southern Illinois, and Ball State … Interested in pursuing sports broadcasting.
ARTICLES
No. 21: East St. Louis defensive back Jaion Jackson gives up dreams of offensive glory (stltoday.com)
As a true freshman defensive back, saw action in 12 games with nine starts at cornerback … Started the first seven consecutive games at cornerback … One of only five regular freshman starters at cornerback in the nation … Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2024 … Earned College Football Network Third Team All-MAC honors as a defensive back … Concluded season with 38 tackles (25 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss for 10 yards, and four pass breakups …Totaled at least one tackle in 10 of 12 games … Made three solo tackles in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … Made three tackles with a pass breakup at Toledo (11/12) … Made three tackles (two solo) at Miami (Ohio) (10/26) … Totaled five tackles (three solo) at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … Finished with four tackles (two solo), 1.5 tackles for loss for three yards and a pass breakup vs. Ohio (10/12) … Finished with five tackles (four solo) vs. San Diego State (9/28) … Registered a career-high six tackles (three solo), 1.0 tackle for loss for seven yards and a pass breakup vs. Ball State (9/21) … Made two tackles and a pass breakup at Illinois (9/14) … In first career start and debut, totaled five tackles (three solo) in season opener vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).
HIGH SCHOOL
A December 2023 graduate of East Saint Louis Senior High School, where he played four years of varsity football for head coach Darren Sunkett … Rated the No. 21 recruit on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30 List … Played cornerback and returned kickoffs … Over 28-game career, finished with 167 tackles (109 solo), averaged 6.0 tackles per game, with five interceptions for 40 return yards on defense and 111 kickoff returns yards on two returns with one kickoff return touchdown … Made 84 total tackles (58 solo), intercepted a team-high four passes for 32 yards, returned a kickoff for a touchdown in 12 games as a senior … Led East St. Louis to a 10-3 overall record and conference title with perfect 5-0 record and Class 6A state title game appearance as a senior in 2023 … His team dropped a 23-20 loss to Cary-Grove in the state title game … Made nine tackles vs. Atasocita … Had eight tackles and an interception vs. BWHS … Made six tackles with an interception vs. Normal West … Finished with nine tackles vs. Edwardsville … Registered nine tackles with an interception vs. Kankakee … Ranked fourth on the team with 88 tackles (44 solo) with four interceptions in 11 games as a junior … Guided the Flyers to a 12-2 overall record, 5-0 conference record and league title, and Class 6A state championship as a junior … Part of a defense that allowed just 123 points in 14 games… Totaled 10 tackles vs. Edwardsville … Finished with 10 tackles vs. DSJHS … Registered 16 total tackles (10 solo) in five games as a sophomore … Team finished 11-3 overall with perfect 5-0 conference record as a sophomore … Played varsity football as a freshman … Rated a three-star by On3 … Rated a two-star recruit by 247sports.com and Rivals.com … Ranked the No. 49 recruit in the state of Illinois … Also played basketball.
PERSONAL
Born Jaion Jackson on October 4, 2005 … Son of Jason Hicks and Andrea Rucker … Has three brothers: DeAndre Fisher, Elvinn Pawnell, and Damon Pruitt … Hobbies and interests include football, training, and eating … Committed to Central Michigan on April 2, 2023 … Selected Central Michigan over offers from Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Ohio, Southern Illinois, and Ball State … Interested in pursuing sports broadcasting.
ARTICLES
No. 21: East St. Louis defensive back Jaion Jackson gives up dreams of offensive glory (stltoday.com)
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