TJ Jackson Follows Love of Football, Fondness of "Hitting People" to Virginia Tech

The Hokies added a massive offensive tackle to their 2016 recruiting class.

TJ Jackson and his mom. [@CuCPS]

For Cumberland offensive tackle TJ Jackson, playing college football will soon be a reality, a few years after he discovered his one true love.

"I didn't want to play, but once I played my first time, I fell in love. Football was the sport I wanted to play on the collegiate level. ... I like hitting people."

Jackson gave his verbal commitment to play at Virginia Tech on Monday night. Jackson announced his decision on his Instagram.

"Yesterday afternoon I was in class, and they called me to the office and I got on the phone with them, and they offered me a full ride," Jackson said. So I was like, 'Man, this is crazy.' I talked to my parents, and I committed last night."

Virginia Tech had Jackson on its board prior to the announcement of head coach Justin Fuente — he visited Tech unofficially over the summer and for the Duke game — but the Hokies' interest in Jackson ramped up over the last month. Fuente and offensive line coach Vance Vice spearheaded Jackson's recruitment.

"He was a real nice guy," Jackson said of Vice, who observed Jackson's basketball practice last week. "What he says is what he means. I really like him as a coach. He treated me like we were friends. He's a real cool guy. He gets you as a person, and not just as a player."

"Amazing," is how Jackson summarized his initial impression of Fuente, and Fuente's reputation for player development helped secure Jackson's pledge.

"[At Memphis] he took players that nobody knew about really and molded them into stars. Coming from Cumberland where nobody knows where that's at, it's pretty nice to get to talk to someone like him, and I'm just thankful for him to actually be interested in me as a player."

Even at 6-9, Jackson slipped under the radar of most colleges. And that's for good reason. His senior year at Cumberland was his first devoted in earnest to learning offensive tackle. As a svelter sophomore in the 6-5, 250 range he played d-tackle, d-end and even some tight end at Fuqua School (Farmville, Virginia). He then transferred Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, North Carolina) to focus on basketball before arriving at Cumberland.

"Being under the radar was kind of a blessing and a curse," said Jackson who also received scholarship offers from N.C. State, Norfolk State, and VMI. "Nobody really knew about me, but I knew my talent could take me real far with my size. When Virginia Tech found out about me, I was pretty amazed. 'How did they find out about me here?' Now I have to show everybody who I am."

To accomplish that, Jackson knows he'll have to "hit the weights" and absorb Vice's every instruction.

"I want to get stronger, and [get better] technique wise," Jackson said. "I was always blessed as a big guy to move real quick. I'm a fast guy for my size."

"TJ has exceptional agility for a young man of his size," said Cumberland head coach Edgar Knapp via email. "He moves incredibly well. It allows him to be very active at OT. His reach is very long and combined with his speed he becomes a powerful blocker. Because TJ has really only been playing football for 3 years, the intensive coaching he'll receive at the next level will improve on his technique across the board."

"When you look at a guy who is 6'9" tall and 335 pounds, he immediately became our left tackle," Knapp added. "He has long arms and agility and we knew he would project out at that position at the next level. We wanted him to get as much exposure at the position as possible. He has great hands and could likely play TE."

Even though Jackson is destined for a career in the trenches, he has no issue with playing a snap or two at tight end — his "dream position".

"I wouldn't mind if they threw in one play, you know, I'd be happy," Jackson said. "I'll score for them, if they want it, I'll score it."

Comments

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No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

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A picture is worth a thousand words. A gif is worth a million.

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Pain is Temporary, Chicks Dig Scars
Glory is Forever, Let's Go Hokies!!

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21st century QBs Undefeated vs UVA:
MV7, MV5, LT3, Grant Wells, Braxton Burmeister, Ryan Willis, Josh Jackson, Jerod Evans, Michael Brewer, Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon, and Grant Noel. That's right, UVA. You couldn't beat Grant Noel.

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Outspoken team cake advocate. Hates terrapins. Resident Macho Man Gif Poster. Distant cousin to Dork Magic. Frequently misspells words.

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There is nothing in the world like Thursday night in Blacksburg!

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Warning: this post occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors)..

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There is nothing in the world like Thursday night in Blacksburg!

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"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

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“I hope that they’re not going to have big eyes and pee down their legs so to speak,” -- Bud Foster

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There is nothing in the world like Thursday night in Blacksburg!

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“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

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"look at this...this is beautiful, these people are losing their minds" -Mike Patrick

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"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

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Wet stuff on the red stuff.

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“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

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A picture is worth a thousand words. A gif is worth a million.

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“I hope that they’re not going to have big eyes and pee down their legs so to speak,” -- Bud Foster

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Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

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"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

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"Welcome to the Terror Dome." -- Corey Moore

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"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders via Ricky Bobby

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"We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their behavior" Stephen M.R. Covey

“When life knocks you down plan to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up, if you fall flat on your face it can kill your spirit” David Wilson

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Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

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Here lies It's a Stroman Jersey I Swear, surpassed in life by no one because he intercepted it.

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Even when you get skunked; fishing never lets you down. 🎣

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“You got one guy going boom, one guy going whack, and one guy not getting in the endzone.”
― John Madden (describing VT's offense?)

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If you don't want to recruit clowns, don't run a clown show.

"I want to punch people from UVA right in the neck." - Colin Cowherd

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"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders via Ricky Bobby

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"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

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I found TKP after two rails from TOTS then walking back to my apartment and re-watching the 2012 Sugar Bowl. I woke up the next day with this username.