Jaion Jackson
Jaion Jackson
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away. Two seasons at Central Michigan, two different head coaches: Jim McElwain and Matt Drinkall. The receipt on tape: 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Buffalo, Week 12, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Jim McElwain → Matt Drinkall. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Drinkall
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR05 · Part-time starter
Part-time starter. Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Central Michigan | 45 | 24 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 7 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Central Michigan | 39 | 26 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 3 | -- | -- |
| Career | 84 | 50 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 10 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 4 · 2025
W 49–10
vs Wagner
2 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 39-point win at home against Wagner.
How he plays
Play style
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Central Michigan
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive back · Central Michigan
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -5 net (12 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Central Michigan · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #121 · 2026 recruiting class #95
DNA match
Player DNA
Rover
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Dennis Barnes’s 2022 season.
Matches Dennis on
Differs from Dennis on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Jordan Shaw's sophomore season at Washington (2024).
Matches Jordan on
Background
CAREER In 25 games and 22 career starts, has made 86 total tackles (51 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss for 39 yards, two sacks, intercepted one pass, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery … Has started 22 out of 25 career games at cornerback … Has started 13 consecutive games …...