Iowa LB Nick Jackson decides to return to Hawkeyes for 2024 season

Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson has decided to return to the Hawkeyes for his final season instead of entering the 2024 NFL Draft, according to Scott Dochterman of The Athletic. He obtained a waiver from the NCAA for the 2022 season at Virginia, which ended prematurely when three of his teammates were murdered. This season for the Hawkeyes, Jackson racked up 110 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and four pass breakups. He was selected to numerous all-Big Ten teams.

Jackson has racked up four consecutive 100-tackle seasons, establishing himself as one of the more productive players in NCAA football history. He’s currently only 113 tackles shy of tying the NCAA career record (577 tackles).

Before he transferred to Iowa, Jackson racked up three straight 100-tackle seasons for the Virginia Cavaliers, becoming one of the more productive linebackers in Cavalier program history. In 2020, Jackson earned third team All-ACC honors and he followed that up with back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022) of earning second team All-ACC honors.

With the return of Jackson, the Hawkeyes defense figures to be one of the best units in college football. Iowa also returns Jay Higgins, Sebastian Castro, and Jermari Harris, ensuring their defensive unit will once again be one of the most dominant in the country.

Nick Jackson returns to Iowa, More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.