Kentucky is in middle of SEC recruiting battle for Ja'Keem Jackson

Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson received an offer from Kentucky on Jan. 28. At that point, the defensive back prospect was unranked, and the Wildcats looked like a prime candidate to land the rising defensive back.

Things can change fast in college football recruiting.

After taking visits to UCF, Florida State, USF, and Tennessee in the spring, Jackson has seen his recruitment blow up. The 6-foot-1 cornerback prospect has seen offers roll in from Penn State (April 19), Rutgers (April 19), Miami (April 20), Michigan State (April 23), Louisville (April 28), Georgia (May 3), Alabama (May 3), Auburn (May 4), Vanderbilt (May 9), Arkansas (May 10), South Carolina (May 10), Iowa (May 13), Purdue (May 13), and Florida (May 20). The Sunshine State prospect is one of the fastest rising prospects in college football.

Ja’Keem Jackson is the No. 629 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Jackson is the No. 105 prospect in Florida, but that is changing fast as some prominent SEC programs are showing heavy interest.

Jackson is visiting Georgia on Saturday as secondary coach Fran Brown is making a quick push for the cornerback. The three-star prospect spoke with Gators Online on Saturday and confirmed the Gators are in the mix, but the recruit is planning on making an unofficial visit to Kentucky this summer.

Jackson has official visits scheduled with UCF, Iowa State, Penn State, and Tennessee. However, things can change fast. Secondary coach Chris Collins has the Wildcats in the mix for an intriguing cornerback prospect, but the rest of the SEC has taken notice as the Wildcats look to build their recruiting board and find some help at cornerback.