Between The Eers: TJ Jackson Talks Decision to Pick WVU
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 Welcome in, everybody.
00:11 It's another episode of Between the Years.
00:12 I'm Skylar Callahan.
00:13 Today, we've got a special guest joining us,
00:15 and that is West Virginia transfer commit,
00:17 soon to be signee, TJ Jackson.
00:20 TJ, thanks for taking the time out here
00:22 as you're getting moved in there at WVU.
00:25 Appreciate it.
00:26 Appreciate it for having me, man.
00:28 Absolutely.
00:29 So let's just start off with getting to know
00:31 a little bit about you.
00:32 So go back to your high school days.
00:35 Talk about the recruitment out of high school,
00:37 what that process was like.
00:38 And obviously, Neil Brown was the head coach
00:41 at Troy some years back.
00:43 So did you have any prior connection to him
00:45 or the staff at all?
00:47 I had a little bit of a connection,
00:49 because my head DC in high school
00:54 was Coach Leslie's best friend.
00:57 So I was in contact with Coach Leslie since then,
01:01 since he was a D-line coach at Troy.
01:03 But I was a little bit too young for them
01:06 to know how developed I was.
01:08 I was only like a sophomore in 10th grade
01:11 when they left Troy.
01:14 I got you.
01:14 So when you come--
01:15 before you make the decision to go to Troy,
01:18 what was that process like?
01:20 Just the comparison between getting recruited out
01:23 of high school versus being recruited out of the portal.
01:27 But basically, like I said, not everybody
01:30 knowing how developed I was and how smart I was,
01:32 because I'm a small defense lineman.
01:34 I was a 6' 300" coming out of high school.
01:38 So I really didn't get too much of big attention, but I did.
01:43 I got a lot of G5 offers from the Sun Belt
01:45 and a couple of MAC offers.
01:48 But I never really had P5s, big conferences, because like I
01:55 said, nobody knew how good I could play.
01:57 And back then, when I was getting recruited,
02:00 most guys was 6' 3", 3' 15" getting
02:04 recruited as defense lineman.
02:05 So I really didn't get that many P5 offers coming out
02:08 of high school, because nobody knew my skill set as well.
02:13 And plus, I was a bigger guy.
02:15 I was 300 pounds coming out of high school, man.
02:17 And I wasn't--
02:18 That's pretty--
02:18 Too age.
02:19 That's pretty--
02:20 Yeah, I wasn't-- I was a little short tree stump, but--
02:24 [LAUGHTER]
02:28 I wasn't as small as I was now coming out of high school.
02:32 And my ball game--
02:34 I played a very different game than what I do now.
02:38 So I feel like my time in college
02:40 really helped me improve that and just help
02:45 get college coaches to see what I could do just off playing
02:49 against P5s like Duke, Ole Miss, and schools like that.
02:55 I mean, nothing's wrong with the Sun Belt, man.
02:57 I mean, up here, we call it the Sun Belts.
02:58 I mean, that's an interesting, entertaining conference.
03:01 A lot of good football down there in that conference.
03:03 It really is.
03:04 First team, all Sun Belts. So just talk about that time
03:08 that you had at Troy, playing in the Sun Belt,
03:10 some of the memories you have.
03:11 What was it about playing at Troy or just in that conference
03:16 that you'll remember the most?
03:19 Mainly, it was because Troy was always a home to me.
03:26 Most guys that's from my town in Millbrook,
03:31 they basically go to Auburn or Tuscaloosa or schools like that.
03:36 But I was always the type of dude
03:37 to go to Troy because I always had friends in Troy.
03:41 My family went to Troy.
03:42 I had a lot of aunties and uncles graduate from Troy.
03:47 So I always felt like Troy was a second home.
03:50 I used to always go to the Troy games.
03:53 Then when I saw them beat LSU, I was like,
03:55 I want to play for Troy.
03:57 And then I was playing down there,
04:02 it was like I'm playing at home because my hometown is only
04:06 like an hour and 10 minutes, an hour and a half from Troy.
04:10 So I had a lot of family come and watch me play.
04:12 So it was just like, I'm still playing in high school.
04:16 My family, I got over 15, 20 family members there.
04:20 They're like the fans.
04:22 I love the fans.
04:23 The fans, they were always fun to play for.
04:25 They always got loud during the games.
04:28 The coaching staff that brought me in and coach staff
04:30 that came in, they just always showed me to--
04:36 they taught me to be the man that I am today
04:40 and showed me the ins and outs of football
04:43 and showed me how to study football.
04:44 And I appreciate my time at Troy a lot.
04:48 It's not just like how other guys don't appreciate
04:52 where they came from.
04:53 I appreciate Troy a lot.
04:55 So talk about that decision to leave,
04:57 because obviously it's a hard one for you,
05:00 because like you said, you grew up,
05:01 you were wanting to play for Troy.
05:04 You had success there.
05:05 The team had success.
05:07 So how difficult of a decision was that?
05:09 And when you entered the portal, was there anything specifically
05:13 that you were looking for, whether it was a scheme, a team,
05:16 a location, anything in particular
05:18 that you were looking for?
05:21 My decision to hit the portal was very hard,
05:23 because I had to hit it late.
05:25 I hit it late.
05:26 But I did want to play the ball game with my teammates.
05:30 I did want to experience that week with them
05:33 that we had in Birmingham.
05:35 And to just hit the portal, it was just like, dang,
05:40 I don't want to leave.
05:41 Even the day I left, me and my roommate,
05:43 we shared a couple of brotherly tears, because I was leaving.
05:48 And it was a very hard decision for me to even just up
05:53 and leave, especially with the quick turnaround I had.
05:56 It was like, dang.
06:00 But my vision to looking for the next school,
06:04 it was for somebody to--
06:09 I had coaching staff I had with Coach Sumrall, the coaching
06:12 staff, the schemes.
06:14 And just not to have a coaching staff that's
06:17 all so focused on football, but also invested in my life,
06:21 invested in my family's life.
06:22 And not just so high football guy.
06:29 I understand you got to be all football sometimes,
06:31 but it's time to be with your family,
06:35 spend time with your family.
06:36 And Coach Brown, Coach Leslie, and Coach Jax,
06:40 the two days I was down here, they really
06:43 showed me that when it's time for football,
06:46 they're going to be football.
06:48 But when it's time for family, they're going to be for family.
06:50 And I really appreciated that.
06:52 And that was a number one factor in what college
06:56 I wanted to choose and where I wanted to go.
06:58 And then also, I never knew there was a spot in West
07:02 Virginia where it's a high point.
07:05 And you're just looking over the ridge.
07:08 Oh, yeah.
07:09 They took you-- that's a pretty sick place.
07:12 Yeah, it was beautiful.
07:14 When I saw that, I was like, yeah, I never connected
07:18 with nature so much from that.
07:20 And then just seeing the snow, I never see snow a lot.
07:24 So I just was like, yeah, this might be the spot.
07:28 So the coaching and the scenery of the place,
07:32 that really helped me make my decision.
07:35 So you took visits to Houston and Indiana, I believe.
07:38 And then you had a few others that got in the mix there.
07:40 But--
07:41 No, I had those set up.
07:45 Oh, you had them set up.
07:46 That's right.
07:46 That's right.
07:47 Yeah, I never went because I came here,
07:49 and it was just like--
07:51 That was the spot.
07:53 It's the spot.
07:55 So outside of the coaching staff and the things
07:59 that they took you around to see,
08:01 what was some of the things that stuck out to you
08:04 while you're on your visit?
08:05 You're just like, man, I don't need those other visits.
08:08 I don't need to even entertain anything else.
08:09 This is where I want to be.
08:11 What made that decision so easy for you?
08:14 Mainly because the rest of the visits I was going to,
08:18 I already knew the coaches.
08:20 And I already knew--
08:22 not trying to say anything bad, but I already knew how--
08:25 like I said, that factor between getting used to experience
08:29 football and family.
08:31 I already knew how they were.
08:32 I already know their hard-nosed coaches.
08:34 I don't mind having a hard-nosed coach,
08:36 but like I said, you got to have that factor in splitting it up
08:39 between family and football.
08:40 So I already knew them.
08:42 So I was like, that's--
08:45 West Virginia's already a spot just off that number one
08:47 factor.
08:48 And then I looked at Houston scenery.
08:51 It's a city-type vibe.
08:53 I'm not very much of a city guy.
08:55 Indiana.
08:56 Indiana is a city.
08:58 It's a country town.
09:01 It's really in the middle.
09:02 And I was really looking for a country town
09:05 from where I'm from, so I could still feel at home,
09:08 be comfortable with the spot.
09:10 And then while I was here, it was the facility.
09:15 Then how even the coaches' wives showed love to my family.
09:20 And just like I said, that scenery, that spot
09:26 that they took me to, I love that, man.
09:30 Yeah, it's beautiful, man.
09:32 It definitely is.
09:32 They're going to probably show you
09:33 a lot of other things around the state
09:35 that are going to catch your eye, too.
09:38 So going to, I guess, the whole recruiting piece of this.
09:44 So when they were recruiting you,
09:46 obviously you told me they expect you to kind of come in,
09:49 be almost like an every-down type of guy.
09:51 Is there a certain technique that they want you to play,
09:54 or a certain role that they expect out of you?
09:57 And what do you feel like you do best?
09:59 I mean, I feel like I'm pretty good off the edge.
10:06 But I could play the three, I could play the five,
10:11 and I could play a nine if I have to.
10:13 It's just I really don't feel like, all right,
10:16 this is what I'm best at.
10:17 Because it's not football nowadays.
10:20 You have to be able to be versatile
10:22 and learn different positions.
10:24 So I honestly just feel like you throw me
10:27 anywhere on the D-line, I could do it.
10:29 But like I used to joke around with my last coaching staff,
10:32 you put me anywhere on the defense, I'm going to do it.
10:36 So I just the type of guy that's not just all one technique
10:44 type of guy or one position type of guy.
10:47 I want to learn all of them.
10:49 I want to be able to do all of them,
10:50 because you never know when there's a time when, all right,
10:53 you got to play this position because somebody's down.
10:57 Or you got to play this position because, all right,
11:01 they want you to go against that guard
11:03 because he's the weakest link.
11:05 Or those situations, because it's been plenty of times
11:09 I was at Troy, I had to play nose.
11:11 And I was like 255 playing nose.
11:15 It's a different world down there.
11:18 It's a different world in that shade and the head up
11:21 on the center, it's a different type of deal.
11:24 So you just got to be able to be versatile nowadays.
11:26 And I never really thought about, all right,
11:30 what spot I'm best at, because I feel like you got to be good
11:34 at every spot you play, or wherever the defensive coaches
11:39 want you to go.
11:40 Yeah, I mean, I feel like that's the thing nowadays,
11:43 especially at the NFL level.
11:44 Like I cover the Panthers too, and I see it all the time
11:47 with these guys in Carolina, where
11:49 they want that versatility.
11:50 You've got to be able to play both inside and outside,
11:54 multiple techniques.
11:55 You got to be able to rush the passer,
11:56 stop to run all this stuff.
11:58 And having that in your belt, that's a huge thing for you.
12:00 So also, West Virginia, coming off a nine-win season,
12:03 they just won the bowl game.
12:05 They finished number 25 in the coaches' poll.
12:08 How much of a factor was that just kind of like the icing
12:12 on the cake?
12:13 Like this team is bringing a lot of pieces back.
12:16 They're off a nine-win season.
12:18 This thing looks like it's heading in the right direction.
12:20 They could be a contender in the Big 12,
12:22 and maybe even the college football playoffs.
12:24 So what were your thoughts on that and their season
12:27 that they just had?
12:29 That was a pretty big factor, because I was--
12:34 I'm not going to lie, every single school
12:35 that I was thinking about going to, I looked at the roster,
12:38 see what they had coming in.
12:39 And every other school that has been in contact with me,
12:43 or has offered me, or tried recruiting me,
12:46 they was all in a rebuilding process.
12:49 And it's my last year.
12:52 I can't be in a rebuilding process right now.
12:54 I'm trying to--
12:56 I got to win now.
12:57 And I want to help West Virginia do that, and get
13:00 to the college playoffs, and win the whole thing.
13:03 And not just, dang, we're so close.
13:07 I want to do the whole thing.
13:09 And I'll do everything in my power to make that happen.
13:12 So before your process became known with West Virginia,
13:16 and your whole recruitment here, how much
13:18 did you know about the program?
13:20 Are you well-versed in the Tavon Austin days, the Steve--
13:23 Yeah.
13:24 --Smiths?
13:25 What is your history, or your knowledge of the program
13:27 for your recruitment?
13:29 Growing up, I watched a lot of college football.
13:32 I watched teams like Bowling Green, teams like that.
13:37 Anytime I seen West Virginia on, I'll click it.
13:41 Especially back in the Geno days, Pat White days.
13:44 And I was like six, seven, watching Pat White,
13:49 just watching him.
13:50 And especially Tavon Austin.
13:53 I still watch his highlights to this day.
13:55 That's the best highlight tape ever made.
13:58 Hands down.
13:59 I don't think there's even a competition.
14:01 But so going to last year, we're going
14:05 to go through a little bit of a rapid fire.
14:07 So you can keep this as short as you want.
14:09 We'll have to do this with some of these guys, the recruits,
14:11 and whatnot.
14:12 So we're going to go through-- let's start here first.
14:14 Favorite NFL team?
14:16 Steelers.
14:17 All right.
14:18 All right.
14:18 Favorite NFL-- or actually, let's go not just NFL.
14:21 Let's go favorite pro athlete of all time.
14:24 Cam Newton.
14:26 All right.
14:26 There we go.
14:27 Cam Newton.
14:28 Let's see here.
14:29 Let's go favorite WVU jersey or uniform combo.
14:34 So helmet--
14:35 All white.
14:36 All white.
14:37 Stormtroopers.
14:38 Yeah.
14:39 All right.
14:39 Let's go Madden or NCAA, since it's coming back.
14:44 And I know you're probably really young when
14:46 NCAA was still out.
14:47 But it is coming back.
14:48 I was playing NCAA before Madden.
14:52 That's right.
14:53 There we go.
14:54 Yeah, I'm going to go NCAA.
14:55 I still try to play NCAA 14 to this day.
14:59 I'm right there with you.
15:00 The revamp thing was OK, but I'm ready for the real thing.
15:03 I didn't really get into the revamp thing.
15:05 I just went and bought a PS3.
15:08 Because I already had the disc, so I just went and bought a PS3.
15:12 Now you might be able to get on the game.
15:14 So that'll be pretty cool.
15:15 I know.
15:16 I know.
15:16 I mean, I've been putting myself on that game for--
15:19 10 years now.
15:22 What would your rating be on NCAA?
15:26 I'd say an 82, 83.
15:29 82 again?
15:29 Yeah.
15:30 OK.
15:30 I like it.
15:31 Yeah, I'm being modest.
15:32 I'm being modest.
15:33 I'm being modest.
15:35 And then lastly, your biggest role model--
15:37 and you can go a little bit more in depth on this one.
15:40 I want to say he's my role model personally in my life.
15:48 But just watching how he did things
15:50 and watching how he competed in a competitive game,
15:54 I say Kobe.
15:56 Kobe.
15:57 Yeah.
15:58 Mentality.
15:59 Yeah, especially when he got into a miss.
16:03 I mean, I watched that whole game when he tore his Achilles.
16:07 When he tore his Achilles, I said, dang, he's going to be out.
16:10 I seen him come back and shoot the two fritos.
16:12 I said, yeah, that man is a dog.
16:15 And just now to this day, I remember the South game,
16:19 I had sprained my ankle badly.
16:22 I couldn't even walk off the field almost.
16:25 Then it was just like, Kobe, you got to finish this game.
16:28 It's a close game.
16:29 Your team needs you.
16:30 And I just clicked on that switch,
16:32 and I continued to play.
16:34 So I feel like I've always watched Kobe.
16:37 I always watch his highlights.
16:39 I even model my game when I play basketball.
16:43 I do everything I can just so I can be like Kobe.
16:46 Just in like a--
16:49 not right with him, but in a way.
16:57 I got you.
16:58 I got you.
16:59 Well, now I got to ask, because you put it out there.
17:01 We're into basketball.
17:02 LeBron or MJ?
17:04 Don't get this one wrong.
17:07 I mean, you said LeBron or MJ.
17:09 I'm going to go with LeBron.
17:10 Oh, no.
17:13 But I'm not going to put LeBron over Kobe.
17:18 Hey, I'm going to say, well, I would go Jordan, Kobe, LeBron.
17:22 But that's just me.
17:23 When it comes to knowledge of the game
17:28 and the ins and outs of the game, I'll go LeBron.
17:32 But when it comes to the skill set,
17:34 I'm going to go with Jordan.
17:35 Yeah.
17:36 Because Jordan had a skill set.
17:37 I feel like anybody who's 6'8" and 260, 270
17:41 should be able to--
17:43 Do whatever he wants.
17:44 Yeah, do whatever you want on the court.
17:46 Like, if you don't, you be even no reason.
17:50 Give me your height, bro.
17:52 I love it, man.
17:53 TJ, we appreciate you so much for coming on and hopping on
17:56 here with us.
17:57 And you got one season left, so we wish you the best of luck.
18:01 And may it treat you well in your time in Morgantown.
18:05 Thank you, and I appreciate you having me, man.
18:08 Absolutely.
18:09 Again, once again, that is TJ Jackson, now West Virginia
18:13 defensive lineman.
18:14 Be sure to hit that Subscribe button on YouTube
18:16 at Mountaineers Now.
18:17 Give us a follow on X at the same handle.
18:19 We'll be back tomorrow with another episode.
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