![Florida Gators assistant coach for defensive line Gerald Chatman instructs during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_334,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01kh4mszb20a2dgvk81p.jpg "Florida Gators assistant coach for defensive line Gerald Chatman instructs during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
On the same day Easton Royal, the No. 1 wide receiver in the class of 2027 booked his official visit with Florida, 6’8”, 297lb offensive and defensive tackle, Kennedee Jackson booked his. He will be in the Swamp between May 28 – 30th.
Booked. @247recruiting @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/2S8nEPrwj1
— Kennedee Jackson (@KennJack55) February 10, 2026
Jackson the two-way lineman from Lithonia High School in Lithonia, Georgia, has offers on the table for offense, however Florida left an impression on him with their offer as they were the first team to offer the junior a position on defense. They initially offered him a position on offense, but after a talk with defense line coach, Gerald Chatman, he officially had offers on the table for Florida for offense and defense. And right now, thanks to his dad, Florida also has a leg up.
“My dad is from Florida and that is his favorite team,” Jackson told Corey Bender of On3. “So he was proud of me,” he stated. With a comment like that, Jon Sumrall and the Gators’ staff are on the hunt to bring the Georgia native down to Florida and make him a Gator. They’ll now have a chance to impress the two-way tackle some more when he visits The Swamp in few months.
Both @CoachGChatman and @CoachTrautFB have offered this 6-foot-8 junior, with the Gators being the only program that has offered for defense.
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) February 9, 2026
"My dad is from Florida and that is his favorite team. He was so proud of me."
More on this recruitment: https://t.co/hwW1na46cc (On3+) pic.twitter.com/ywPAW3wvnA
In his 2025-26 junior campaign, Jackson totaled 15 tackles (nine solo, six assists), with an average 2.1 tackles per game and five tackles for loss. Over the course of his career, he has combined for 22 total tackles (14 solo, 8 assists) in 12 varsity games with Lathonia. That includes 1.8 tackles per game and six tackles for loss. He also had one sack in 2024-25.
As his recruitment currently stands he not only has two offers on the table from Florida, but he also has offers from Boston College, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, East Carolia, Georgia State, South Florida, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Tulane, and Western Kentucky.