From the Locker Room to the Mic: Ja’Kobi Jackson Talks UF Football

Join this channel to get access to perks:Join the Stadium and Gale crew for an exclusive sit-down with Florida Gators linebacker Ja’Kobi Jackson! We talk about his journey to The Swamp, life as a Gator, goals for the upcoming season, and what it means to wear the orange and blue. From recruiting stories to locker room vibes, this episode gives you an inside look at one of the rising stars of Florida football.

🎙️ Topics Covered:

Ja’Kobi’s path to Gainesville

Adjusting to the college game

Thoughts on the coaching staff and defense

Goals for the 2025 season

Life off the field

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Jackson to the show. Jacobe, how are you, my friend? I’m doing good. What’s good with you? What up? Yeah. What up? What up? What’s good? Good to have you, man. Good to have you. So, thanks for pulling up, my guy. Man, uh these guys didn’t make the spring game, so they ain’t see you go crazy. But I had put a tweet out on the timeline of the uh the Warhog or whatever running through the the Safari and you know, we exchanged follows, man, and DMs. And thanks for pulling up, man. Hell of a season and also hell of a spring game. Yes, sir. I appreciate you. Thank you, Jacobe. We’re going to start this interview the same way that we start with uh with everybody’s interview. You kind of had a a roundabout way to the University of Florida. Talk to us a little bit about yourself in high school. Uh going to junior college and ultimately ending up at the University of Florida. Um really just, you know, hard worker coming out of high school. I did uh I would say I did everything I needed to do far as on the field and off the field with school and co really the only thing I can say that really happened. the negative that uh from my high school and then just having to go to junior college and not really caring where it was at. Just wanted to play ball and just wanted the opportunity to keep playing football. So, and in your in your recruiting process, uh like so the pandemic slowed down your recruiting, you think? Not not, you know, um like how did it affect your your recruiting? Do you think you would have blew up and been a bigger prospect had it not been for the pandemic? I would think I would have had more offers really. I had like three from like UNC Charlotte, Western Kentucky, South Alabama, schools like that. And I really just was trying to wait to see like where I want to go with visits wise. So I I didn’t take a visit before CO. So when CO hit, that kind of canceled everything out. And so it really just like they started signing like whoever like three stars, whichever high recruit that that they could get. So it really just left me just out in the out in the wind just trying to find somewhere to play ball at. So did that does that affect your confidence at all? No, definitely not. No, definitely. It just made me go harder to be honest. Awesome, man. Awesome. So you you go to uh to K Community College. talk to us a little bit about your time there and then you know what uh what happened with Bill Napier and the staff you know reached out to you. Did you know you wanted to go I know you’re originally from Pensacola and Pensacola Catholic High School. Did you know you wanted to go to Florida when that offer came or talk to us a little bit different? Uh so really coming out of uh junior college I was uh committed to Charleston Southern and then so as graduation as I graduated like the day before graduation uh Florida um Jacob Lef friends they uh analysis they hit me up and everything through Twitter and stuff but I thought it was uh I ain’t really know if it was real or not. So you know I went to uh I went to googling names and and stuff like that. Went to googling names and stuff like that and then it was it was real. So, kind of caught me by surprise. And then I kind of they uh Coach Jaloop came to my high school. We met up at my high school. He watched me work out a little bit and stuff like that. And then got down here to Gainesville, went on a visit with my mom, just me and my mom and kind of went around the campus and that’s when I got with Coach Nate and it was just he said he liked me and everything else and he gave me the offer. So that’s all it really took like it wasn’t no more else to it. It just the offer. I knew like once I got offered I was coming to Florida like no matter what that’s where I was going to be at. So one thing I’m tell you man as a as a prior Jo guy you go through some hell and hot water to get to a place like University Florida through the Jo rinks man. So what was that journey like at Jo? Um just really just you know staying staying staying down just continue to grind. my uh my family back at home always motivated me, sent me text message and stuff. So that that kind of like helped me and just knowing where I come from as well, just knowing like I was already, you know, from from the projects I was saying and everything else. So just continue like, you know, just proving everybody wrong and proving myself right to be honest. That’s it. I know I can always play football. So I kind of didn’t know like whichever level it was, I can play football. So that’s just kind of that’s just kind of me. It’s football. What was that step up for you? So Jordan Scarlet, who’s on the show, he’s a running back the Gator. We we talked about a lot about this when when he joined the show. What was that step up for you going from from Jo to that first practice at UF? Oh man, it was crazy. I mean, just everything everything was crazy. The tempo, just the intensity of practice, the energy, the amount of energy you have to put every day in practice. All of was something different and it was something I had to learn and adjust to I would really say. But I adjusted well and caught on well. So having those guys like Trevor Montrell in the room when I got here and Trayon web like just watching them and watching how they do things that helped me out. So So I know they say you came from Jo. I like to call it out the mud my guy. But uh you a real product man that made it out the mud and I’m just proud to see your journey. I’m glad to see what you got going on. But when you did go into that locker room and you first stepped into that running back room, how did you feel as far as your playing level? Like you said, you jumped into a room with a bunch of guys knowing Montreal kind of came from Napier’s last school kind of deal. And just how did you feel? How was your vibe in the room once you first got there? Um the vibe the vibe was the vibe was smooth. I really would just say just just knowing like having confidence in myself. So I didn’t I didn’t really care about who was in the room. I kind of did my research and found out who was in the room. It was just more about just getting here, learning, and doing everything I need to do so I can get on the field. So, Right. For sure. So, now you guys have widely considered at least amongst people that watch the game, one of the best backfields, you know, in the SEC, maybe in college football next year with you, Trey Webb, Jaden Ball, Kane Daniels. You guys brought in a couple of good freshman as well. Talk to us a little bit of competition in that room. I know you guys are all brothers and you guys are all looking out for each other, but there’s got to be a nice healthy competition there. What’s that like in in practice? Oh, yeah. Just uh it’s it’s very healthy competition just, you know, motivating each other, making sure everybody doing what they need to do. And that’s that’s that’s what you need in the team. Like everybody for each other. We’re brothers in the room at the day. At the end of the day, we going to motivate each other and we going to get on each other when we not doing what we supposed to do. And so just having that really that’s that’s like that’s the type of room you need. So yeah. Yeah, that’s good. Watching your game, man. One thing I say I love about your game, man. I love your physicality, the way you run the ball, and your contact balance. I feel like you very rarely rarely let the first dude tackle you, which I love about your game. And the contact balance, I emphasize that because a lot of people when they get touched or arm tackle running through the hole or bouncing off somebody, they tend to get loose with the ball or anything, just maybe a trip over something so simple. But I feel like you do a good job of staying your ground and kind of running physical throughout the whole time you running the route. So I definitely love that about it. And I also wanted to ask you a question as well as far as um how do you think the running back room will go this year. Are you cool with running back by committee? Are you cool with that sort of deal to where? Because when I was playing, we kind of did it by drives which I kind of got used to it. But it used to be one drive I get one, next drive per get one, next drive Pierce get one. and like we’ll just rotate like that all game. And I mean it’s good because you’re kind of fresh, but I just want to get your take on how you feel about it moving into the upcoming season knowing how deep we is in the back field. Uh I wouldn’t I mean I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I I feel uh very confident in every guy in the room. You know, once the freshman come along and they uh understand the system a little more, they even they’ll be ready to go. So I mean just everybody staying positive, motivating each other, that’s going to get the best out of every person on the team. So that’s that’s how I look at it, right? What’s your favorite run play in the offense? Uh favorite run I would say what outside zone like night like scratch or I would say inside zone. Yeah, outside zone. Give you all the options in the world. Cut it in or keep it going. That’s a good one. And what type of uh coaches Jaloo? He does a good job with eval. Um when you first committed, you know how fans are, man. I know you guys see the social media and oh, who is this three star kid that we losing Trevor ET in the Georgia? Who this who this they bringing in? Right. Yeah. But so far, man, Jaloo has hit on every running back he’s brought in. Like the Eval has been on point regardless of the star rating. U just looking at Jaden Ba, he wasn’t one of those highly regarded guys, but he’s one of the best freshman backs last year in the country. Um what what type of relationship you guys got with Jalook and how good of a running back coach is he? Uh, Coach Luca is a great running back coach and all us in the room are uh, tight with him. I would just say he’s a coach that make us pay uh, attention to like the little stuff like footwork, um, certain uh, knowing who we got before the ballers even snap, certain things like that. Really just attention to detail, making sure we we need we’re doing what we need to do to be the best running back room that we could be. So, how important is pass blocking in offense? Pass blocking is like the number one number one in offense. If you can’t pass block, you can’t get on the field. That’s really what coach tell us. So, we take pride in pass blocking. Especially if you don’t know who you got, man. Really? Yeah. That’s Yeah, that’s Yeah. If you don’t even know who you got, that’s that’s really the main thing. What do you think about blocking them? You got to know who you got. Yeah. Right. Right. But I do got one more question for you, man. How is the emphasis um on team run? Because when I was in school, I feel like as a as a running back room. I can’t speak for everybody else, but we took pride in team run. We used to love that’s the first thing we cut on when we go in the film room next day is team run. So, I just want to know what’s y’all emphasis like on team run. Is coach Jaloop emphasizing team running now that this is our period? And like what’s the intensity like for y’all? Do y’all take it serious and y’all competing with each other to see who can hit them home runs? Yeah. So, I really would say team run would be the most intensive like part of the practice. just um I know we take like you said as our running backs we take a lot of pride in team run. We don’t we don’t want to lose. We don’t want to get stopped for short yardage. Everybody want to break uh break big runs. So I would say yeah like that’s that’s that’s our drill. Like you said we we take pride in that. We want to win that every day. So Jacobe for those that may not know of course I do but for the fans that don’t listen what is team run? Uh team run is just starting defense versus starting over and we just and it’s running. is just running the ball. Both sides, everybody in the Everybody in the building know it’s T run. Everybody know we running the ball. So it just we wanted more. No pass plays. All run. Ain’t no play action, no nothing. So the defense got their ears pinned back trying to get to the get to the ball. Yeah. Who bringing the most smoke uh on that defense, man, in practice? Uh most smoke most smoke I would say Tyreek and George. They bring they bring a lot of energy on defensive side, inside run. So, every time we get into it with them, like we know it’s time to go to work. Your [ __ ] sack don’t be playing. Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t think I want to be tagged by either one of them. Um I want I want to ask you guys kind of went a little viral uh for some celebrations that you get you guys did revolving the uh the belt belt ass. Talk to us a little bit about that celebration. And obviously there was a belt available. So this is something pre-planned at least or hey some about it. No, it really it really it really wasn’t playing. Uh I kind of we kind of just I was doing it and then I kind of just end up with a belt in my hand from somebody on the sideline. So So that was kind of that was kind of fun. Belts. Yeah, they just I just end up with a belt and then Yeah. So being back close to the crib back in Tallahass. Did you grow up a Florida State fan? Nah, definitely not. No, that’s crazy. 85. Who who in the uh who did you grow up cheering for? Uh the Gators and somebody else that’s Yeah. It don’t matter now because I’m a Gator. So yeah, man. This guy doesn’t need PR, man. Yeah. Well, uh who you listening to pregame? Uh pregame NBA Young Boy every time. Gotta get in that mode. I might turn on some raw wave. It all depend. No, don’t cry. No, I ain’t crying. It just, you know, way early in the morning just to get that mind right for the turn on. Yeah. To get the mind right to think about all the flashback what you have been through. That’s what Ron W. Yeah. Reflecting. Yeah. Who’s your Who’s your favorite? I go all y’all boys about got to jump in. Who’s your uh favorite running back growing up? Who you like watching? Who do you model your game? I really watched Derek Henry growing up. Big back. Really just for the stiff form and just aggressive running. And I would say like what Leamian Thomasson, uh, Lean McCoy, Le’Veon Bell, those type of guys, just really watching those, just trying to mimic what with a little stuff that they do. That’s why I really like the stiff form though from the running backs though. So, yeah. So, fast forwarding a little bit on the schedule, who you looking forward to playing this year, what what you you interested on the game in a swamp or on the road maybe to knock somebody off? In a swamp for sure. I’m uh looking forward to the Texas game. Really every game but Texas game for sure. Yeah. How would I want him? I’ll be there this year. Don’t you worry about it. Yeah. I’m ask running backs. Go ahead. Go ahead. No, go ahead. Ask both of y’all running backs. You and Jordan. Uh you got to choose one of the three or you can put them in order. Uh juke truck stick or stiff arm. Uh it all it really depends like We ain’t doing no juking. We going straight. We going straight down your face. I make a little stiff arm on the sideline. Yeah. So make ESPN out definitely. It’ll definitely be the stiff form. It’ll be the crazy stiff form. Well, yeah, I feel that. Go ahead. Go ahead. No, I’m just going back to these these uh super chat donations. Uh Anthony Beck uh said 850 in the building. Uh and we got one from uh a fan favorite over here. I’m him said um he wants you to convince coach Nape that he needs to get a lineup. He’s out here looking crazy. So that’s where I went. I mean, oh man, I had a lot more hair. You know what I mean? What do you think about the name? I like the nickname Jack Cheese, man. Where did that come from? Jaloop. Yeah, that came from Coach Jaluke. Just one practice. Uh I don’t know. It was just like Jack Cheese and that’s kind of just where it went, you know? It kind of came uh around the facility name and everything else. Not everybody knows. So, yeah. What’s one thing you’re working on this off seasonason? Um just really really speed. Just more more speed. Getting faster. Just getting faster. that’s more explosive. That’s really my main thing this offseason I would say. And just continue to uh be a leader, a positive positive leader to my teammates and everything. You’re one of the older guys in the room now, huh? Yeah. This is still a young room. Um and also this is my last question. What do you think about the Juko rule change and they gave you guys some eligibility back? You know, what was that like for you when you got that news? Uh, I mean I don’t know cuz I haven’t I haven’t used any of those years and I don’t know how how they going to do it or anything. I know I would love to have like two two years a year back. So I mean yeah but they haven’t discussed anything about it. So right now this my last year and that’s how that’s how we going to do it right now. So Right. Okay. Okay. Wow. Say I about to say man I just want to give you just a little piece of advice. I ain’t knocking your game. When I heard this, when I was in your position, I felt like my coach was knocking my game when he told me this. So, I’m about to tell you this. It has nothing to do with your gameplay. I’m not saying you’re not going to be a starter, baller, Hall of Famer. I got belief in you. But I will say, take special teams serious right now, man. Man, like I don’t care if you’re not even on none. Say, “Coach, man, put me in there on practice at least just so you got Yeah, I start I start on all all really all phases for special team.” Perfect. Stay in that. stay in the mix because the next level, brother, that way they gonna throw you at first and that’s gonna really determine if you make that roster, if you dressing up and being active on game day, etc., etc. When I first heard that come from my coach, I’m like, “Look at that, [ __ ] I’m for the star. What you talking about?” So, obviously, I was a hardheaded dude, man, but I definitely want to just always pass it on to my backs because as running backs, we’re the most uh athletic position. We fast. We got good feet. We physical. And we honestly one of the best things to be on special teams because we can handle the ball well. We know how to handle the ball as well as we know how to block. We physical. We fast. So really, they always want to use running backs on teams. So if you can go into the league knowing all four and killing all four, brother, you gonna be in there for a long time. Yes, sir. I got you. I appreciate you. Yes, sir. Jacob, we appreciate your time, man. I just I wanted to tell you something. Not sure if you’ve been told. If you looked at all of the top running backs in the class of 2024 that went to the NFL and then you looked at your ability to to have more than five yards on a carry, you outperformed them as a percentage of your carries above five yards. So, uh, I’m super pumped for you next year, man. You’re one of my favorite Gators to watch. I think you’re going to have a hell of a year and a breakout year. And I think it goes to show your hard work’s paying off, man. So, keep up the good work, man. We’ll wish you the best of luck. And uh you do much social media stuff or or not too much? Yeah, I’ll be on the social media a lot more now. So, yeah. All right. Well, let everybody know where they can follow you, man. We appreciate your time today. All right. Y’all can follow me at JJack five on Instagram at 24J on uh Twitter X. So, yeah. I appreciate y’all for having me today as well. All right, brother. My guy. Best of luck with everything, dude. All right. Man, go eat. Yes.