Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. announced his decision to declare for the NFL Draft today. The Gadsen County native did not play in the regular season in 2023 because the NCAA declined his eligibility request, but he played in every game in 2024.

Jackson Jr. had an up-and-down college career, and Florida State was his third stop. He began his career at Maryland before transferring to Miami, where he started all 12 games for the Hurricanes. He wanted to move closer to home because his mother was battling an illness, so he transferred to Florida State. However, the NCAA denied his waiver to transfer twice without sitting out a year, forcing DJJ to redshirt the 2023 season. He recorded three tackles in the Orange Bowl, as the waiver did not extend to post-season play.

In 2024, he openly talked about what it meant to play next to his best friend, Josh Farmer, but the DT duo started the year slowly. After the bye, however, Jackson Jr. took off and became one of the most impactful players on a defense that lacked them. He finished the 2024 season with 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

FSU Bio from Seminoles.com

2023:

Forced to sit out regular season due to NCAA transfer rules…Bill McGrotha Award…made FSU debut in Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Georgia…recorded three tackles, including 0.5 for loss, vs. Bulldogs…redshirted 2023 season.

BEFORE FSU:

Has appeared in 25 collegiate games with 13 starts and recorded 49 tackles, including 4.5 for loss with 3.0 sacks, and one pass breakup…started all 12 games his sophomore year at Miami…registered 27 tackles, 4.5 for loss with 3.0 sacks, and one pass breakup…made career-high seven tackles vs. North Carolina…saw action in all 13 games with start in Pinstripe Bowl his true freshman season at Maryland and totaled 22 tackles…made season-high six tackles in 20-17 win at Illinois and matched season-high stops total in 54-10 victory vs. Virginia Tech in Pinstripe Bowl…ranked 44th among strongside defensive ends in Class of 2021 by Rivals out of Gadsden County High School…made 23 tackles, 5.0 for loss, with one fumble recovery and one pass breakup in seven games his senior year…helped Jaguars reach semifinal round of 4A state playoffs…was teammates with current FSU defensive tackle Joshua Farmer at Gadsden County.