Keondre Jackson impressed teammates last season – including Buck Buchanan Award winner Zeke Vandenburgh – while starting as a sophomore safety at Illinois State. (Photo by Keelen Barlow)
By Barry Bottino
As the reigning winner of the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in FCS, Zeke Vandenburgh knows about making an impact.
The Freeport native piled up an FCS-best 14 sacks last season, along with 21 tackles for loss, while earning the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year as Illinois State’s “Jack” outside linebacker.
Now with the Miami Dolphins, Vandenburgh had a quick explanation of who is next to lead the ISU defense.
“Keondre Jackson is going to be a tremendous player,” Vandenburgh told Prairie State Pigskin.
A junior safety at ISU, Jackson is someone who knows Vandenburgh well. They attended Freeport High School together.
“When I was a freshman, he was a senior,” Jackson said. “We had a computer class together.”
Jackson started 10 games last season, collecting 46 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception, while winning plenty of admirers.
“He wants to be the guy when the lights come on,” ISU defensive backs coach Tevin Madison said. “At the end of the day, you have somebody who wants the pressure.”
Leading the way
Along with Vandenburgh, Illinois State’s defense has had standouts at multiple positions in recent years, including defensive tackle John Ridgeway and safety Luther Kirk, who both have played in the NFL.
“Every year, you’re going to have a different set of players with different skill sets,” Vandenburgh said. “One year you might have a guy at inside linebacker or a guy at nose or even a guy at safety. Over my six years, it’s been a variety of where your best player is on defense.”
Being talked about as ISU’s next great defender by Vandenburgh has special meaning for Jackson.
“It’s definitely inspirational,” he said. “Growing up with Zeke and being around him a lot, I got to learn a lot of things from him. I roomed with him, too.”
Jackson’s skill set
Athleticism and work ethic are two of Jackson’s biggest attributes, ISU coaches and players said.
“I’m an all-around ball player,” the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Jackson said. “Put me anywhere in the back end and I’m going to make plays.”
Along with defending opponents’ rushing and passing attacks, Jackson also could make an impact on the pass rush, such as Kirk did when he had three sacks in 2019.
“With how athletic he is and how big he is at safety, bringing him off the edge would be a wise strategy,” Vandenburgh said.
Jackson welcomes the opportunity.
“Whatever position coach puts me in to make a play, I’m just going to make a play,” he said. “If I’m a pass rusher, I’m going to go rush.”
Mr. Energy
Whether on game day or in a practice, Jackson’s voice also sets him apart.
“He brings the juice every day,” linebacker Cade Campos said. “He’s a special player and a different type of guy. He loves playing football and he walks the talk.”
Jackson’s interactions with teammates are also unique.
“It’s great to be around him,” Madison said. “If we need a kick starter, he’s going to put his foot in somebody’s butt. If we need a guy to take the pressure off somebody, he’s going to crack a joke. He’s got a real good feel for understanding people and understanding what the moment needs.”
Where does that come from?
“I’ve got 13 siblings,” the 21-year-old Jackson said. “Growing up with a lot of brothers and sisters and having a lot of friends, I’ve got a wide-ranging personality.”
Jackson’s siblings range in age from 6 to 28, he said.
The road ahead
Illinois State (6-5) was the only FCS team in the state with a winning record last season.
Jackson expects the team’s valuable off-season work to pay dividends.
“Everyone worked their asses off in the spring,” he said. “Everyone worked their asses off in summer workouts. To see all the work that everyone put in come to prosper … that’s what I look forward to.”
For Jackson, his time will come starting Sept. 2 against Dayton to meet the expectations of Vandenburgh and others.
“I definitely see it in myself,” he said. “I’m a very confident individual. I’ve just got to make it happen and go make plays.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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