Phil Parker happy with Nick Jackson, Iowa linebackers
The Iowa Hawkeyes are expected to have another impressive season in 2023, in large part thanks to their defense headed by defensive coordinator Phil Parker. One of Parker’s most vital areas of defense is his linebacker core, where he has one player, Nick Jackson, named to the Butkus Award Watch List.
Jackson transferred to Iowa in the offseason after spending the first part of his collegiate career as a Virginia Cavalier. So far, during the Hawkeyes fall camp, he has proven why he starts 2023 on the award watch list. Jackson’s performance in camp has made Parker elated by what he’s seen from him and what he brings to the team.
“Nick came in and he is a very eager, very smart football player. The biggest thing he has given is he has added some more depth obviously, he’s a guy that has game experience. Between Jay, Nick, and Kyler Fisher, and the other guys coming in. That builds us depth back there.”
In Jackson, Iowa has an opportunity to win back-to-back Butkus Awards; an award that is given annually to the most impactful linebacker in college football. Last year’s recipient was former Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell, who was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 18 overall pick by the Detroit Lions.
Jackson is a graduate transfer playing at Virginia for four seasons. With the Cavaliers’ he was a three-year starter, earning second-team All-ACC honors in back-to-back seasons, 2021 and 2022. In 2022, he put up a stat line close to his 2021 season despite playing two fewer games. In 12 games last season, Jackson recorded 104 total tackles, 41 solo, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and forced one fumble.
Jackson named to Butkus Award Watch List
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Two University of Iowa football players have been named to position watch lists on Thursday. Linebacker Nick Jackson was named to the Dick Butkus Award Watch List, while defensive back Cooper DeJean was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List.
Presented annually, the Butkus Award goes to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker. Former Hawkeye Jack Campbell won the award last season in 2022 and was a semifinalist in 2021, while Josey Jewell was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 2016 and a semifinalist in 2017.
Jackson (6-foot-1, 234 pounds) will compete in his first year with the Hawkeyes this fall after transferring from the University of Virginia. The Hawkeye senior was named second-team All-ACC by the conference and Associated Press after leading the team in tackles (104) and quarterback hurries (4) and ranking second in sacks (5) a year ago. The Atlanta native was named Virginia’s defensive MVP following the 2022 campaign.
The award semifinalists are expected to be named Oct. 30, with finalists to follow on Nov. 20. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 6.
On3’s Blair Sanderson contributed to this article