Former Maryland and NFL linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, who was announced as part of the Maryland Athletics 2021 Hall of Fame class earlier this summer, recently revealed that he contemplated transferring to Florida after his freshman year … only for one coach to convince him to stay.
Jackson starred at Maryland from 2002-2005 before being drafted in the second round (No. 34 overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2006 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 231-pound linebacker played 10 seasons in the NFL — seven with the Browns and three with the Indianapolis Colts. He piled up 1,192 tackles, 19.5 sacks, nine interceptions and one Pro Bowl nod (2014 with the Colts).
Prior to that, Jackson made his mark in College Park. He made 447 tackles during his college career, fourth in program history. He also posted 24 tackles for loss and six interceptions. Jackson played behind E.J. Henderson in 2002, but he was the heart of the defense from 2003-2005 after Henderson graduated. The Terps went 31-18 during Jackson’s four years in College Park.
But Jackson nearly starred elsewhere. Jackson was recruited to Maryland out of Largo, Fla., by current head coach Michael Locksley, then the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. After the 2002 season, Locksley left for the same position at Florida under Ron Zook. Jackson wanted to follow Locksley to Gainesville.
Locksley had other ideas.
“He said, ‘Listen, you made a commitment. You need to stick to it,'” Jackson said on Glenn Clark Radio Aug. 4. “The conversation that we had after that was as real as it can get. He told me, ‘Listen, coaches are going to come and go. You can’t follow a coach. We’re still going to be friends, we’re still going to communicate, and you’ll have a successful career.’ It’s just what happened. I had a successful career. I stayed in touch with him. He’s one of my closest friends, and here we are, back where it all started.”
Jackson recalled hitting it off with Locksley during the recruiting process. Jackson said he felt like “just a notch on the belt” when talking to other coaches who were recruiting him. Locksley seemed different — genuine, honest and someone with whom he could have a real friendship.
That’s why Jackson wanted to follow Locksley to Florida. And that’s why Locksley looked out for Jackson after the 2002 season.
“[Locksley] recruited a lot of guys from the south in 2002, and a lot of those guys, we were ready to leave to follow him and he talked us out of it,” Jackson said. “He didn’t talk us out of it — he told us the hard truth. The hard truth was, ‘You don’t follow a coach. Everything else lined up for you to be there. It’s going to be there whether or not a person or a coach is there. It’s going to work out for you.’ A lot of guys could’ve selfishly taken a different route, and he chose not to.”
Jackson is confident Locksley will get it rolling at Maryland. Locksley, entering his third year as head coach, went 5-12 during his first two years but the team showed positive signs during the shortened season in 2020. The Terps beat Minnesota and Penn State, and it appears they may have a legitimate quarterback (Taulia Tagovailoa) for the first time in years.
Jackson is willing to help out any way he can as Locksley works to turn Maryland around.
“For guys like myself and other guys around the area who played for Maryland who still live in the area, we want to see him succeed and do whatever we can,” Jackson said. “It’s going to start by us being present and giving our time to some of these youngsters so they can ask us questions that they may not necessarily want to ask their coaches. I think given the time to build this roster the right way, I think you’ll see a drastic turnover in the style of play on Saturdays given the time under his tutelage.”
For more from Jackson, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics