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Florida football: Which freshmen have had the greatest impact?

By Will Thomas

Florida safety Jordan Castell (14) celebrates after making a play during a football game between Tennessee and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.
Florida safety Jordan Castell (14) celebrates after making a play during a football game between Tennessee and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. /
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Florida football true freshmen No. 3: Ja’Keem Jackson

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GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 09: Ja’Keem Jackson #2 of the Florida Gators breaks up a pass intended for Jonathan Harris #3 of the McNeese State Cowboys during the second half of a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 09, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

Seeing a high volume of meaningful snaps at corner as a true freshman in the SEC is not something that a lot of players get.

Ja’Keem is one of those guys. His natural talent is undeniable, and he’s been showing it on the field so far.

He was rated as the 6th-best corner in the 2023 class, and for good reason. His discipline on the outside at his age is outstanding, and his ball skills paired with instincts aren’t far behind some of the older guys on the Gators’ roster.

Through three games he only has two tackles and two pass deflections, but that’s in large part because people just aren’t throwing his way very often.

The play that tipped me off to know that Jackson was going to be great was when Bru McCoy scored a long touchdown on him last week.

Yes, it looked like Bru pushed off, but it wasn’t called.

I wasn’t concerned with how he covered Bru on that rep, but I loved his reaction afterward. He showed that he cared.

He’s a first-year guy going up against a big upperclassman in his second school in a three-score game, and he was disappointed in himself that he couldn’t make the play.

That passion to be great is something that not a lot of guys have, regardless of their class. The Gators got a good one in Ja’Keem.

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