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Former top 100 prospect for Florida Football is off to the transfer portal

Ja'Keem Jackson was a former top 100 prospect who was hurt early in the 2024 season

By Benjamin Henderson

Sep 16, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson (2) before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Watkins-Imagn Images
Sep 16, 2023; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson (2) before the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Watkins-Imagn Images / Chris Watkins-Imagn Images
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Transfer portal season is in full effect, and Florida Football is having to figure out which players are returning in 2025 before hoping to make a big push of their own this offseason.

But with Early National Signing Day tomorrow, one transfer portal member for the Gators is a reminder that no matter how highly rated a player is, that doesn't mean a team will get automatic production from said player.

Florida Football: Action Jackson

Ja'Keem Jackson was the headliner for Billy Napier's class of 2023. The defensive back out of Kississimme was a consensus four-star, with three of the four major services ranking him in the top 100 overall.

Coming into the 2023 campaign, he was a player we thought we would see a lot of early and noted at the time:

"He was noted for his length and speed coming out of high school. Jackson converted from wide receiver to cornerback.

 He ran 10.90 seconds in the 100-meter dash during his junior year of high school and has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40.

He's not afraid to try and be physical and has very good instincts on how to find the ball once it is in the air."

Jackson did play in 11 games in 2023, but his snap count was low at 113 total snaps. He was targeted 11 times in 60 pass coverage snaps and gave up six receptions for 151 yards, including three receptions for 41 yards against FSU in 2023.

But coming into the 2024 campaign, there was hope Jackson would take a leap and would be a key member of the secondary. He took 48 snaps against Miami and was targeted six times, giving up four receptions and a touchdown. Jackson took another 38 snaps against Samford, but suffered an injury that wound up knocking him out for the season.

With Devin Moore, Dijon Johnson, Sharif Denson, Cormani McClain, and Jameer Grimsley slated to return in 2025, the defensive back room for Florida will have competition, and it is unclear where Jackson would have been in that mix.

Jackson will still have three years of eligibility left.

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