COMMIT: Alabama Picks Up Big Juco Cornerback

Alabama continues their trend of signing big bulky secondary defenders with the addition of juco standout Khyree Jackson. At 6’3” and 197 lbs, Jackson fits right into that mold of every down cornerbacks like Trevon Diggs (6’2”/207) and Patrick Surtain II (6’2”/203) that Nick Saban has been moving towards in recent seasons.

Jackson led Dr. Henry Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, MD to a 14-0 state championship as wide receiver/safety, setting a school record of 12 receiving touchdowns in the process. Yet, he was a non-qualifier out of high school. His original plan was to attend Arizona Western but ended up at Fort Scott CC in Kansas where he found a home on the defensive side tallying three interceptions in just 8 games. This season, he will suit up at high profile East Mississippi CC.

EMCC head coach Buddy Stephenson has high praise for Jackson:

“He’s got all the tools,” Stephens said. “He’s tall and long and can change directions. He’s physical. He has really good ball skills. When you put all those things together, that makes him one of the best if not the best defensive backs I’ve ever coached.”

Depending on how he develops at the Capstone, Jackson could stay at CB or move to a safety-linebacker hybrid position.

According to 247Sports, Jackson is rated as the No. 3 overall junior college prospect in the nation. He chose Alabama over Florida, Oklahoma, and Oregon. Freddie Roach continues to pay dividends as the primary recruiter. Karl Scott was the secondary.

The question now remains whether Jackson will play football this fall. The NJCAA has already announced that it will be moving its football season to the spring. Mississippi Association of Community Colleges, which EMCC plays in, has filed an appeal to play in the fall with a target date of Oct. 1 for season openers. Should they lose that appeal, it is highly unlikely Jackson participates in spring football. The good news is that he would enter Alabama as a redshirt sophomore with three years to play out three seasons of eligibility.

2021 COMMITS

(EE = Early Enrollee, so far)

• Tommy Brockermeyer OT Fort Worth, TX 6’6”/288 #5 247sports composite. EE
• Damon Payne DT Belleville, MI 6’3.5”/297 #14
• JC Latham OT Chicago, IL (IMG, FL) 6’6”/305, #16 EE
• Jacorey Brooks WR Miami, FL 6’3”/180 #26 EE
• Dallas Turner DE/OLB Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6’4”/235 #43
• TJ Ferguson OL Fort Valley, GA 6’4”/300 #46 EE
• Agiye Hall WR Valricio, FL 6’2”/183 #70 EE
• Deontae Lawson LB Mobile, AL 6’3”/215 #110 EE
• Monkell Goodwine DE/OLB Fort Washington, MD 6’4/260 #112 EE
• Christian Leary WR Orlando, FL 5’9”/190 #124 EE
• Kendrick Blackshire LB Duncanville, TX 6’2”/245 #150 EE
• Kaine Williams S Marrero, LA 6’2”/190 #153
• James Brockermeyer OG/OC Fort Worth, TX 6’3” 273 #187 EE
• Ian Jackson LB Prattville, AL 6’1”/210 #232 EE
• Kadarius Calloway DB Philadelphia, MS 6’0”/210 #365
• Devonta Smith CB Cincinnati, OH 6’0”/185 #402 EE
• Anquin Barnes DT Montgomery, AL 6’5”/310 #490

LONG SNAPPER

Alabama may have found an answer at long snapper after extending a preferred walk-on offers to Hoover’s Carter Short and Crimson Tide legacy Kneeland Hibbett out of Florence (AL) High School. Short has already accepted. Hibbett has not announced his intentions as of yet. Some of you diehard Gumps might recognize his grandfather, All-American wide receiver Dennis Homan, who was third in career touchdown receptions (18) until the Big 3 all passed him this past season.

Current LS Thomas Fletcher is a rising senior.