One of Miami’s longest-limbed, largest Canes is a ‘lean’ run-stuffer (and friend to DEs)
.jpg "at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, September 24, 2022.")
That 6-foot-6, 328-pound, “lean,” long-armed bulldozer at defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes is the kind of guy who quietly makes his edge rushers thrilled.
Darrell Jackson, a sophomore who became UM’s 11th transfer and fifth on the defensive line when he left the Maryland Terrapins for Miami before the season, has started the past five games for the Hurricanes. As is often the case with talented defensive tackles, Jackson, who especially savors stopping the run, is in the background plugging up the middle so his ends can get their glory.
“I take a lot of pride in it,’’ Jackson said Wednesday of his contribution to UM’s 11 sacks in the past two games, which includes one of his own against North Carolina. “They’re my guys. We’re all one unit, we’re all working together. I don’t mind taking on double teams. That’s my job. I gotta do what I gotta do to make the team successful.”
Jackson, out of Gadsen County High in the Florida panhandle, is from the tiny town of Havana, about 15 miles northwest of Tallahassee. He chose UM over the Gators, Florida State and Tennessee, and said he’s still getting used to “being in the city.”
Maryland season
Last season as a Maryland freshman, Jackson played in all 13 games, making his first start in the Pinstripe Bowl victory over Virginia Tech, where he tied his career high of six tackles. He finished with 22 tackles, 15 of them solo. Halfway through the 2022 season he has 16 tackles, two sacks and 2 1/2 tackles-for-loss.
Starting the past three games opposite Jackson is 6-4, 290-pound sophomore defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, who has nine tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, four tackles-for-loss and and a quarterback hurry.
“He’s huge,’’ UM center Jakai Clark, expected back after sitting out with an injury last game, said of Jackson. “He’s strong — long arms. It’s hard to block a guy like that when he’s naturally big and working with [defensive line] Coach Joe [Salave’a].’’
Jackson said he bench presses 385 pounds and squats 625. “I got long arms on my bench so it’s really difficult,’’ he said. “I try to work on my extension. Once I lock up, nobody can get close to me [with] blocks.’’
UM (3-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays at home at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Duke (4-3, 1-2), and Jackson is especially eager to face the Blue Devils, 33rd nationally in sacks allowed (nine). Duke is second in the ACC in rushing (205.8 yards a game) and the Hurricanes are 14th nationally and third in the ACC in rushing defense (98.2).
Run-stopper
“I love stopping the run,’’ Jackson said. “I take pride in that. That’s one of my biggest things I can do. So this is going to be a great opportunity for me to play Duke.”
Jackson is one of four UM defensive linemen, and its only tackle, with at least 10 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. PPF rates Jackson the 18th best interior defender in the country this season. He is helped by UM’s steady rotation of linemen, limiting him, for example, to 26 snaps in UM’s most recent win at Virginia Tech.
“When you weigh 325 pounds and go out there and you run around at the level we ask them to play with effort — fly to the ball — then if you play 71 snaps at 325 pounds, yeah, you’re going to be playing with effort but you may be a little low on gas in the tank. …They’re staying fresh,” UM defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said.
“I love it,’’ Jackson said of his teammates’ heavy rotation. “They give me my breath. I stay fresh and we all help each other out, so it’s a good thing.”
Mario Cristobal lauded Jackson’s efforts Wednesday during his Zoom session, calling him an “exceptional” human being and football player. “He is a lean 328 pounds. His best football is ahead of him. He is an absolute pleasure to be around all the time because he loves practice, he loves to work.
“He’s got a great personality about him, no task is too small for him,’’ the coach said. “There is no ego there. You can push him and he responds well.”
On media day in August, Jackson said the word “work’’ — a favorite of Cristobal’s — nine times in 2 1/2 minutes.
“He’s about earning playing time,’’ Cristobal said. “He’s about working for it. He is exactly what you want in a program.”
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 4:31 PM.
