Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson arrested

Tim Verghese (1)by:Tim Verghese•08/06/21•

TimVerghese

Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson was arrested Friday on drug charges, notably a second-degree felony count of possession of a controlled substance, according to Brazos County Jail records.

Jackson was released later Friday after posting a $22,000 bail.

The felony charge accuses Jackson of having between four and 200 grams of a controlled substance. He also faces a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge.

The marijuana charge is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. The second-degree felony charge of possession of a controlled substance is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Jail records indicate the charges were from April 7. The circumstances surrounding the April 7 arrest are unknown at this time.

Per department policy, McKinnley Jackson has been suspended from all athletics activities according to a program spokesperson.

The second-year defensive lineman was in line to be a key contributor along the defensive line for the Aggies, replacing Bobby Brown III, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in April. Brown led the Aggies in sacks last season.

As a freshman, McKinnley Jackson played in all 10 games and earned SEC All-Freshman honors. He had 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Coming out of high school, Jackson was a highly-touted, four-star recruit and considered the top player out of the state of Mississippi. He committed to Texas A&M on signing day in 2020. He chose the Aggies over Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss.

Texas A&M returns the majority of their defensive starters from the 2020 season, which saw the Aggies win the Orange Bowl. The two most impactful departures were leading tackler Buddy Johnson and the aforementioned Brown III.

If Jackson is unable to contribute in a major role this season, the Aggies will be dependent on second-year defensive linemen Isaiah Raikes and Dallas Walker IV as well as incoming freshmen Shemar Turner and Tunmise Adeleye along the interior defensive line.