Jayden Jackson Interview 12-20-23

Allsooners
Allsooners
  • last year
Oklahoma DL commit Jayden Jackson speaks with AllSooners outside of the OUInsider signing day special.
Transcript
00:00 So first off, now that signing day is complete, how does it feel to be officially a member of OU's 2024 class?
00:05 Um, I feel pretty good, you know, I'm ready. Yes, sir.
00:09 And, you know, obviously coming here, you're not originally from Oklahoma.
00:13 What was it like getting to come here for the first time? What did you think of Norm and everything like that?
00:19 The first time I was here, right after my OV, I'm pretty sure I knew, me and my family knew where I wanted to go.
00:27 So, I'm sorry, I said, I'm pretty sure, oh my, I'm pretty sure I knew where I wanted to go from my first visit.
00:35 And yeah, it's pretty crazy out here. I love them. I love the people around here, the fans and everyone.
00:41 So you said you kind of knew where you wanted to go from that first visit. What was it about that first visit that sold you?
00:46 Um, just sitting down, talking with Coach Venables and talking with Todd Bates.
00:51 Those two, man, they're amazing. You know, sitting down with Venables, he just was talking about preaching, actually, faith, family, football.
00:59 And that's top three, actually, on my list of the morals that I want to have when going to school.
01:05 And hearing that from a head coach, yeah, I was pretty much sold when I was sitting right by my mom.
01:09 And so you mentioned Coach Venables, Coach Bates. What's your relationship like?
01:13 I know you said that you get along pretty well with those two guys, you, your family. What's your relationship like with those coaches?
01:19 Um, I don't even see them as coaches. You know, they're actually pretty close.
01:24 I'm pretty sure, you know, me and my family see them as, you know, another family member, another part of our family.
01:30 So if that puts in perspective how close. So, yes, sir.
01:34 And, you know, to go through this whole process with your teammate, your high school teammate, David Stone, what has that meant to you? How's that been?
01:39 Um, it's pretty crazy. You know, that's my dog. That's my guy. That's my ride or die.
01:44 Um, so, you know, I had some faults here, here and there. I didn't know if he was sure.
01:49 But now that he's home, you know, I'm ready to go with him. We're about to both compete in the best division of football.
01:55 So, yes, sir. So you talk about the SEC. Did that factor in your decision at all getting to play in the SEC?
02:00 Um, a little bit here and there. You know, it is amazing to play in the biggest division, especially the SEC.
02:07 So that's definitely a factor. Yeah.
02:10 And so for some fans who might not be as familiar, how would you describe your game?
02:15 Um, I'll definitely say I'm a technique kind of guy. You know, I have more technique.
02:21 Um, I try making my technique as perfect as possible. If that slants through my gap, I had a lot of help with my coach at IMG Academy, Ernie Logan.
02:30 So thank him and thank them.
02:32 So now that you're in Norman, what are you most excited to work, get to work with here with the coaching staff in NLU?
02:40 Um, what I'm excited to work with? Um, most definitely the weight program.
02:47 You know, I want to get bigger. I want to get stronger, faster as much as I can. Just get upper hand in football as much as I can.
02:53 So definitely that. Um, soul, soul mission. I know you've heard of it. A lot of Sooner fans have heard of it.
03:00 I'm definitely excited to work with that because it's just giving to the community.
03:03 And at the end goal, you know, that's what I want to do at the end of my life when I'm retired.
03:07 Have you gotten to talk to any of the guys that are currently in Oklahoma's line room?
03:11 Um, yeah, I talked to some of them here and there. And what were those conversations like? What was talking to them like?
03:16 Um, there was just all great things. You know, the number one thing that I heard mainly from them was that.
03:24 Sorry, the number one thing that I mainly heard from them was that like the coaches, it's not a recruiting scandal.
03:30 How they talk to me and how they, you know, how they sit there and just preach.
03:34 They act like that every single day. So, yeah.