Say this much for Will Jackson: He's not going to be strung along.
"I'm not going to get in the waiting game with any school," the offensive lineman from Farragut High School said. "I'm going to make my decision and I won't look back from there."
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Jackson, who is the News Sentinel's 10th-best prospect in the state, said an announcement concerning his college destination will come soon, possibly within the month and certainly before his senior season begins in August.
It would be easy for Jackson to get involved in a waiting game with the 800-pound Big Orange gorilla in the room. Countless prospects have remained undecided while Tennessee continues its evaluations into the winter months.
Jackson received significant interest from UT, leading most to believe that a strong showing in last month's football camp would spur the Vols into offering Jackson a scholarship.
Jackson lived up to his end of the deal. UT still has not extended an official offer.
"They're doing their own thing, getting the guys they want for whatever reasons they want them," Jackson said. "I guess they're looking at different things than some of the schools that have offered me."
Just because UT seems uninterested doesn't mean Jackson is devoid of options. With more than 13 scholarship offers, Jackson has whittled down his list to Kentucky, Stanford, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Wake Forest.
That list will be pared down to three or four later this month. Much of that process will depend on Auburn, a school that hasn't offered Jackson but has shown strong interest lately. Jackson will visit The Plains on July 12 for Auburn's camp.
Jackson already has visited Auburn for the Tigers' spring game. This time, he hopes to get more up-close and personal with Auburn's coaches.
"That's the main thing," Jackson said. "I just have to get familiar with the staff down there."
That staff may be more enticed than others. Jackson is more finesse than power, which could be a perfect fit for Auburn's new spread offense.
"That's my feelings," Jackson said. "I ran the spread in high school. I'm not a big 320-pound kid, but the spread requires a lot more athleticism and smarts to pass block.
"I think that would be perfect for me."
Auburn was the first school to talk to Jackson. Then, the Tigers backed off. They came on strong once again early this summer, inviting him to this month's camp.
Perhaps Auburn just needs to take a look at Jackson before offering him a scholarship? Perhaps the Tigers' coaches just want to see him up close? Jackson is tired of trying to predict what coaches may do during camps.
"It's hard to see how these camps work," he said. "A school will show you love, you'll do pretty well and they won't offer you."
Stanford may prove to be the X-factor in Jackson's recruitment. Sure, Jackson would love to play SEC football but an education from Stanford certainly has its benefits.
"That's something I've been struggling with," Jackson said. "That's going to be a really tough decision."
"Distance wouldn't be a factor for a school like Stanford because of the education you can get there."
Stanford or the SEC? Jackson is in no hurry to make that decision, one that would have only been made more difficult had UT not stepped aside.
"It's still a good school but I've been able to form better relationships with some people (at other schools)," Jackson said. "I still do like UT but I haven't talked to them as much lately.
"I've got other options so it's not a huge issue."
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 18
CT_VOL writes:
Anyone want to wager a guess as to why we don't want this kid?
CTVOL
gohawks1 writes:
Any insight, CT? I was kinda wondering the same thing. Too small? Plenty of depth there already?
BSweet writes:
No real insight, but maybe the staff has other o-linemen they like better. I know according to rivals and scout there are several big o-linemen who are interested in us. Maybe the staff just likes them more and feels like they have a good shot at them. Who knows? Only time will tell.
dburgVol writes:
I've heard that the staff plans to sign only 2 more o-linemen this year so them not extending him a scholarship offer would suggest they have the inside track to a few better linemen. I know they want to lock down the borders of Tennessee but they cant sign everybody from the state.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
I can see it now. Had we offered this young man, the LOM would be whining, "Oh great, now we're battling Kentucky and GT for players. Fire Fulmer!!!"
BOJ
volfan_brian writes:
Look at the schools folks...Kentucky, Stanford, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Wake Forest.... not a national power in the bunch.
You can say WVU is, but looking at their history, its a history of being overrated!
imw8n4u writes:
awhil00 - that's the "ole bait and switch" teaser headline the KNS is famous for. Looks like they are going through the top 10 one article at a time, like a count down. Slow time of year and need to milk the articles as much as they can to get through the summer.
Let the coaches decide who they do and don't offer, that's why they make the big bucks.
mikes70gto writes:
Rumors are that Jackson,Conway,and Phillips have played both ways (D/T) and consider these players diamonds in the rough.Good size,have the GPA's and all three really want to play for UT.A good combination if you ask me.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We need DBs, not O or D linemen.
Sheesh.
Ironcity writes:
Whats it say about the states football programs when UT doesn't offer the number 10 player in the state.
Bigger_Al writes:
Ironcity - The KNS rates the players, not any sort staff with football knowledge. This is how busts are made.
b_neas writes:
He sounds to whiny for an OL we want anyway. I doubt Chad Clifton would have made comments like this coming out of HS?
gotvols writes:
Mr. Jackson should probably consider somewhere else. UT does not have enough room for a Junior in High School to be making himself a bargaining chip of that caliber. He obviously didn't show it in camp or he would have an offer. Maybe he is as much of a slacker as he is a whiner.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
BOJ, I agree.
Jacksonlover75 writes:
Well Mrs.CT_VOL William is a outstanding player and has gotten more offers than the amount of times you have been laid. As a fellow friend of Mr.Jackson I respect his hard work ethic and sense of team leadership. I have never gotten the oppertunity to play with jackson due to a horrible accident as a child, but know him personally. O can't forget volfan_brian's well thought out comment "Uh...not...a national...power...bunch" I think any kid getting looks at by any school should be admired even if to maryville college. Well in closing why would a great talent as jackson waste his time and abilty at a school where he is unwanted by the fans and get to play under a "super" coaching staff. Thank you and good day.
wtnvol writes:
While I agree with Jacksonlover that any offer is a good offer when you consider it's a free education (Vandy's offer alone is worth about $250k), I think what everyone is trying to say is that Jackson just needs to stop talking about the no-offer situation from UT. It's starting to sound a little sour grape-ish. Sometimes it's best to just shrug your shoulders and move on.
wtnvol writes:
And I meant to add, Jacksonlover, that your comments would be better received without the childish insults.
jchandler567 writes:
marc_ash said " As for the other schools interested in him, other than West Virginia, the rest of that list is a joke. Go to UK, or Wake or Ole Miss if you want to finish at the bottom of the conference."
Actually wake won the ACC in 2006 and went to orange bowl so how exactly is that finishing bottom of the conference?
And how can you say negative things about the offers hes recieved when Revis had 1 offer: Duke (whos won 5 games since 2003) and Schofield had 2 offers: Gardner Webb and Charleston Southern (division 1-AA schools)
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