Amari Jacksons’ Signing Example of BC Fighting ‘the Real Fights’
Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom)Publisher
Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley grinds on the recruiting trail. As do his assistants. The staff was on the road for about three weeks this season. Turning in BC’s second straight top-35 class, the group fearlessly refused to let the blue blood programs get in the way of its recruiting expectations.
“When we first got here, I told the staff to go fight,” Hafley said. “Whether that’s to try to flip a kid from Florida, beat Notre Dame on a [kid], go fight the real fights. And then let’s end up with 21 of them after we fight. And don’t worry about the ones you didn’t get.”
Probably the biggest fight the Eagles won in the early signing period was securing three-star cornerback Amari Jackson, a McDonough, Georgia, native who was being pursued hard by Tennessee.
Jackson committed to BC in June over schools such as Northwestern and Virginia. But Josh Heupel and Tennessee came into the picture in November, and Jackson took an unofficial visit to Knoxville. Both BC and Tennessee made in-home visits, and the Volunteers wanted Jackson to take an official visit the weekend before National Signing Day.
Still, the Eagles’ staff—namely Hafley, defensive backs coach/associate head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and defensive coordinator Tem Lukabu—won out.
“When he called me today, and he had signed, that’s probably as loud as I’ve screamed in a long time,” Hafley said on signing day. “Especially because I felt like that one was a fight to the end.”
The 6-foot, 180-pound Jackson is the No. 8 corner and 93rd overall Class of 2022 prospect in Georgia. While at Eagle’s Landing, Jackson played both ways, registering 47 tackles and 24 receptions as a senior.
During his high school career, he also piled up offers from the likes of Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Miami Michigan State and North Carolina State.
He only ended up taking official visits to Northwestern, Virginia and, of course, BC.
Jackson is the lone “traditional” defensive back to sign with BC in the 2022 class, considering that four-star safety Sione “Riz” Hala is more of a linebacker/safety hybrid. That said, Jackson isn’t necessarily prototypical, either.
“I think he’s going to be a star,” Hafley said. “I mean, he is a twitched up, good-sized kid who can run, cover. He’s got ball skills, he’s tough, he can catch the ball. He could probably play offense or defense. Eventually, he might do both down the road.
“That’s how talented I think he is.”
Hafley met with Jackson and his family the weekend of Dec. 4. Abdul-Rahim went back out there the following week. The staff’s efforts were enough to shield off an SEC program.
“Those are the fights I’m talking about,” Hafley said.
