When Donte Jackson is on the field, opposing offenses often hesitate to throw his way.
The junior defensive back is one of the fastest players in the nation, but didn’t have the chance to showcase his talents in the first half of the season. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda had a plan to change that.
Aranda’s idea was to place Jackson in the nickel back position, so offenses can’t avoid him. If he wasn’t breaking up passes, he can easily avoid blocks and make big tackles on the inside.
“Coach Aranda brought it to me, like ‘We’re going to move you around a lot, let you get in action because that’ll help the defense,’” Jackson said. “That’s something that Coach O was big on too, just putting me inside. With Kevin [Toliver] and Greedy [Williams] outside, you don’t really miss a step anyway, so it’s a good move.”
A breakout performance by redshirt freshman Greedy Williams, coupled with junior Kevin Toliver as the other corner, opened the door for Jackson to easily slip into the slot corner.
“That was something that if we could get two solid guys on the outside, we could move somebody like me inside,” Jackson said. “Somebody that can beat blocks and make tackles. So having them outside is a security blanket to be able to move me inside.”
Williams and Toliver’s dominance on the outside mirrors Toliver and Jackson’s dominance last season, which allowed former LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White to move into the nickel.
Like White, Jackson is versatile enough to adapt quickly and keep up the level of play in the secondary.
“Me and coach Aranda sat down and watched a lot of film on [White],” Jackson said. “Jalen Mills played the slot really good too. Just learning and seeing what their tendencies were, I know I have a different game set from those guys, but just knowing their brain and how they think is helpful.”
Jackson is no stranger to the position though. He played nickel for former defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s defense during his freshman season, and acknowledges how his growth in football knowledge makes it easier in Aranda’s defense.
Jackson practiced in the nickel during fall camp because Aranda wasn’t sure if he would be inside or not. Jackson was awaiting the move and embraced it wholeheartedly when it happened. Since the switch, he has made twice as many tackles in the last four games than he had in the first four.
“I get a chance to make a lot of plays on the ball and make a lot of tackles,” Jackson said. “Anyway you can make plays, I’m always good with it. I feel like it makes our defense a lot more dominant when you have somebody inside who helps on the run and makes plays on passes.”
Jackson appreciates the mobility of the position, but also recalls the patience and discipline he needs to play it well.
On the outside, Jackson explained there is a lot less field to cover, and you know what needs to be done. In the nickel, it is a much larger space, and he must sit back and pay attention to the leverages and the help.
“Outside, you rely on the safety or the linebackers to make the call,” Jackson said. “But when you’re at nickel, they rely on you to make the call. It took a lot of film study and knowing what teams like to do in certain packages. I have to make a lot of calls and a lot of tackles.”
Jackson has to be on alert all game, paying attention to formations and routes of the opposing teams. Being able to see what a team is going to do before they do it, and to make adjustments based on the observations, is essential to the nickel position.
His intense level of play at the position brings a confidence to the entire defense that will translate throughout the rest of the season.
“I like to tell the DBs that it’s all on us,” Jackson said. “We give up a play, that’s what people see, but when we make a play, that’s also what people see.”
Defensive backs coach Corey Raymond always tells Jackson that he’s the best in the country, and that he wants him to play like he’s the best in the country. He has the personality and the gameplay to influence the rest of the team to do the same.
“I’m the leader in that room,” Jackson said. “If I’m going to be the leader, I can’t be the one getting thrown at or get caught on. I think when the guys see me playing how I’m playing, they feed off of that. Greedy, Grant [Delpit], Kevin; they see me playing, see me talking, they get hype off that so I bring that leverage. I feel like I’m the best so I’m going to play like I’m the best.”