After a season with 99 tackles at Illinois State, safety Keondre Jackson continued to make plays at the Hula Bowl, which led to a Senior Bowl invitation. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Keondre Jackson was relaxing one evening last weekend by playing a video game when his cell phone rang.
“I got a Phoenix number calling me,” said Jackson, the Illinois State All-American safety. “I don’t really answer random numbers, so I wasn’t going to answer it.”
The call turned out to be anything but random for Jackson, an NFL prospect who played Jan. 11 in the Hula Bowl all-star game in Orlando.
“I had just talked to the (Pittsburgh) Steelers the previous night, so I was like, ‘It could be the (Arizona) Cardinals,” he said.
The caller, though, was Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, the premier college all-star game, with an offer to play Feb. 1 in the annual game in Mobile, Ala.
“It’s an honor. I’m humbled,” Jackson said Wednesday from TEST Football Academy in Miramar, Fla., near Miami, where he’s training for a shot at pro football. “I put a lot of work in, and I feel that I’m one of the best safeties in this draft class. I know I’m one of the hardest-hitting safeties in this draft class.
“As much as it was an honor to get the call, I know I’m supposed to be there,” he said.
Jackson will fly to Mobile on Sunday and begin practicing with the National team.
The game will air at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1 on NFL Network, which also will broadcast practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the game.
Making plays on new ground
After a season in which he piled up 99 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while leading the Redbirds to 10 wins and their first playoff berth since 2019, Jackson thrived in Orlando.
What did he show pro scouts?
“My ability to cover. Man coverage, zone coverage. My ability to make plays,” he said.
On the first day of practice in Orlando, Jackson recalled playing safety for Team Kai. The opposing squad, Team Aina, threw a pass to the tight end and Jackson responded.
“The tight end went up and grabbed it,” he said. “I just jumped over and took the ball away from him. I intercepted it and took it back for a pick-six. It showcased my skills and showed that I’m able to make plays.”
Jackson said he has talked to representatives from 28 of the NFL’s 32 teams. At the Senior Bowl, he will have even more exposure. The game is coached by NFL staffs, attended by hundreds of scouts, front office personnel and even head coaches.
In addition, hundreds of media members from around the country cover practices and the game.
“You always hear that the draft starts in Mobile, Alabama,” Jackson said. “It’s everybody’s dream that plays ball.”
Former Illinois State tight end Cam Grandy, who played in last year’s Hula Bowl and just completed his rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals, said the Senior Bowl is a big stage for Jackson’s talents.
“I’m fired up for him. That’s a big opportunity to get in front of a lot of scouts and organizations,” Grandy said. “I see great things ahead for Keondre. He’s a great player and great leader. I look forward to playing against, or maybe even being on the same team with him.”
From safety to where?
Jackson shined for Illinois State at safety and considers the position his home.
But NFL scouts see his tools and have different visions.
“I’m a strong safety, but as my film shows, I’m a hybrid guy,” he said. “It’s about the scheme of the team. Some teams like me at the safety position. Some teams see me as a nickel. All teams see me playing special teams as well, which I’m all for.
“Some teams see me playing like a Derwin James position,” he said.
James, the veteran defensive back for the Los Angeles Chargers is listed as a safety on the team’s roster. But this season, he was voted an All-Pro as a slot cornerback.
The Senior Bowl lists the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Jackson as a safety, but when the game’s Twitter account posted about its position groups and coaches, it put Jackson with the “Linebackers/Edge” group led by K.J. Wright, who coaches edge rushers for the San Francisco 49ers.
Working toward the future
While the Senior Bowl is a big step for Jackson, he is mostly focused on day-to-day training and skills duties at TEST.
“The process is going great for me,” he said. “I know I’m explosive. I know I’ve got the body type. For me, it’s working on as much flexibility as I can have. Open up my hips, get my range of motion a little bit better.”
After the Senior Bowl, the next potential opportunity is an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, a televised event featuring all 32 teams from Feb. 27 to March 2 in Indianapolis.
“That’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Jackson said. “This is what you dream of when you’re a young kid growing up. You play a video game and do the combine drills on there. You watch it on NFL Network.”
But for now, it’s one day at a time.
“I’m going to take care of what’s in front of me and be grateful for what’s in front of me,” he said. “If I do those things, the rest will take care of itself and a combine invite might come.”
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.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment