Jordan Jackson drafted in sixth round by New Orleans Saints
4/30/2022 3:20:00 PM | Football
DL Jackson is first Falcon position player selected since 1998
Defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, a 2021 Air Force Academy graduate, was drafted in the sixth round by the New Orleans Saints in the 2022 National Football League Draft Saturday. Jackson was taken with the 15th pick of the sixth round, No. 194 overall.
Jackson is the first Falcon drafted since long snapper Austin Cutting, who was taken in the seventh round, #250 overall, by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. He is the first position player picked since defensive lineman Bryce Fisher was selected in the seventh round with pick No. 248, by the Buffalo Bills in 1998. Jackson is the second-highest pick in program history, trailing only offensive lineman Dan Palmer, who was taken in the sixth round (#178) by the San Diego Chargers.
Jackson closed his career as one of the all-time leaders in tackles for loss and sacks yardage at Air Force. He recorded 29.5 tackles for loss for 181 yards which is eighth in program history. He had 15.5 sacks for 137 yards which ranks second at Air Force. Jackson was a second-team all-conference selection for the second time in his career and recorded 41 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 2021.
Air Force finished the season 10-3 overall and was co-champion of the Mountain West Mountain Division with a 6-2 mark. The Falcons posted double digit wins for the second time in three seasons (2019). The team capped the season with a 31-28 victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, to record its third consecutive bowl win dating back to 2016, including two straight over Power 5 teams.
Air Force in the NFL Draft
Ernie Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers, 1972 (10th/#257)
Dave Lewson, PK, New York Giants, 1976 (16th/#444)
Chad Hennings, DT, Dallas Cowboys, 1988 (11th/#290)
Joe Wood, PK, Houston Oilers, 1992 (12th/#332)
Steve Russ, LB, Denver Broncos, 1995 (7th/#218)
Dan Palmer, OL, San Diego Chargers, 1996 (6th/#178)
Bryce Fisher, DL, Buffalo Bills, 1998 (7th/#248)
Austin Cutting, LS, Minnesota Vikings, 2019 (7th/#250)
Jordan Jackson, DL, New Orleans Saints, 2022 (6th/#198)
94 Jordan Jackson, DT
6-5, 285, Sr., Jacksonville, FL (Bolles)
2021 – Started all 13 games ... second-team all-MW selection, second time of his career (2019) ... tackle for loss in eight of the last 10 games ... ranked 10th in the MW in sacks with a .58 average ... had 12.5 TFL for 91 yards and 7.5 sacks for 79 yards, his 79 yards in sacks ranks fourth in AF history ... four tackles, 2.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks vs. Louisville in bowl game ... two tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble vs. UNLV ... five tackles, 2.0 sacks for 15 yards and 3.0 sacks for 17 yards at Nevada ... three tackles and a TFL at Colorado State ... four tackles, 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks vs. SDSU ... three tackles, a sack and a pass breakup vs. Wyoming ... three tackles and a half-sack at New Mexico ... two tackles and 0.5 TFL vs. FAU ... four tackles vs. Utah State...also blocked a PAT, his second-career blocked kick (PAT vs. Colorado in 2019) ... two tackles and a QB hurry at Navy ... recorded three tackles and a sack for 11 yards vs. Lafayette in first game since 2019, went over the 100-tackle mark for his career in the game ... NFLPA Preseason Big Board selection ... Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List selection ... returned to the Academy after missing 2020 ... led all active Falcons with 29.5 TFL and 15.5 sacks, second in total tackles with 140 ... led all active players in career games played with 49 ... ranks second in AF history in career sack yardage with 137 ... ranks eighth in AF history in career TFL yardage with 181.
2020 – Did not see any action.
2019 – Played in all 13 games, starting 12 … was a preseason all-Mountain West selection … earned honorable mention all-MW and was second-team all-Colorado by the National Football Foundation … recorded 38 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks … had a team-best four quarterback hurries, along with two pass breakups … had a career-high nine tackles and a quarterback sack vs. Army … had eight tackles and a tackle for loss at Navy … four tackles, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries vs. San Jose State … one tackle, a quarterback hurry and his first-career blocked kick at Colorado … the block was on an extra point in the fourth quarter to keep the Air Force lead at seven points … two tackles, a quarterback hurry and a half sack vs. Colgate … leads all active Falcons in career tackles for loss with 17.0 and quarterback sacks with 8.0.
2018 – Played and started all 12 games … named second-team all-Mountain West, the first defensive lineman and first sophomore to earn the honor since 2014 … recorded 54 total tackles and team bests of 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks … ranked seventh in the Mountain West with 1.04 tackles for loss per game … had at least one tackle for loss in eight games … four tackles and a pass breakup vs. Colorado State … four tackles and a tackle for loss at Wyoming … matched his career high with seven tackles and had two sacks for 13 yards vs. New Mexico … six tackles vs. Boise State … had a streak of four straight games with at least a tackle for loss … six tackles and a pass breakup (on UNLV's final play) at UNLV … three tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss at San Diego State … season highs in total tackles (seven), solo stops (five) and tackles for loss (3.5) vs. Navy … his 3.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Falcon in 2018 … four tackles and a tackle for loss vs. Nevada and Florida Atlantic … four tackles and a tackle for loss vs. Stony Brook in his first-career start.
2017 – Played in 11 games … recorded seven total tackles, including six unassisted … recorded a career-best five tackles vs. New Mexico … had one tackle each vs. San Diego State and Colorado State.
High School – Lettered four years in football, one in wrestling and one in weight lifting … was a two-time all-city selection in football … earned all-state honorable mention as a senior … high school football coach was Corky Rogers … played on same football team as former Air Force teammate Kyle Johnson.
Personal – Parents are Henry, Jr. and Dorothy … has two siblings … major is management … nickname is JJ … attended the USAFA Prep School and played football … completed survival training, the basic space operations program and a program in remote piloted aircraft in the summer of 2018 … completed an engineering class and was on the cadet leadership cadre in the summer of 2019.
Career Highs
UT:........ 5, Navy, 2018
AT:......... 7, Army, 2019
TOT:.......9, Army, 2019
TFL:........3.5, Navy, 2018
Career Statistics
Tackles
Year G U-A TOT TFL Sacks
2021 13 24-17 41 12.5-91 7.5-79
2019 13 16-22 38 4.5-30 3.5-26
2018 12 27-27 54 12.5-60 4.5-32
2017 11 6-1 7 0.0-0 0.0-0
Total 49 73-67 140 29.5-181 15.5-137
Jackson is the first Falcon drafted since long snapper Austin Cutting, who was taken in the seventh round, #250 overall, by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. He is the first position player picked since defensive lineman Bryce Fisher was selected in the seventh round with pick No. 248, by the Buffalo Bills in 1998. Jackson is the second-highest pick in program history, trailing only offensive lineman Dan Palmer, who was taken in the sixth round (#178) by the San Diego Chargers.
Jackson closed his career as one of the all-time leaders in tackles for loss and sacks yardage at Air Force. He recorded 29.5 tackles for loss for 181 yards which is eighth in program history. He had 15.5 sacks for 137 yards which ranks second at Air Force. Jackson was a second-team all-conference selection for the second time in his career and recorded 41 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 2021.
Air Force finished the season 10-3 overall and was co-champion of the Mountain West Mountain Division with a 6-2 mark. The Falcons posted double digit wins for the second time in three seasons (2019). The team capped the season with a 31-28 victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas, to record its third consecutive bowl win dating back to 2016, including two straight over Power 5 teams.
Air Force in the NFL Draft
Ernie Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers, 1972 (10th/#257)
Dave Lewson, PK, New York Giants, 1976 (16th/#444)
Chad Hennings, DT, Dallas Cowboys, 1988 (11th/#290)
Joe Wood, PK, Houston Oilers, 1992 (12th/#332)
Steve Russ, LB, Denver Broncos, 1995 (7th/#218)
Dan Palmer, OL, San Diego Chargers, 1996 (6th/#178)
Bryce Fisher, DL, Buffalo Bills, 1998 (7th/#248)
Austin Cutting, LS, Minnesota Vikings, 2019 (7th/#250)
Jordan Jackson, DL, New Orleans Saints, 2022 (6th/#198)
94 Jordan Jackson, DT
6-5, 285, Sr., Jacksonville, FL (Bolles)
2021 – Started all 13 games ... second-team all-MW selection, second time of his career (2019) ... tackle for loss in eight of the last 10 games ... ranked 10th in the MW in sacks with a .58 average ... had 12.5 TFL for 91 yards and 7.5 sacks for 79 yards, his 79 yards in sacks ranks fourth in AF history ... four tackles, 2.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks vs. Louisville in bowl game ... two tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble vs. UNLV ... five tackles, 2.0 sacks for 15 yards and 3.0 sacks for 17 yards at Nevada ... three tackles and a TFL at Colorado State ... four tackles, 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks vs. SDSU ... three tackles, a sack and a pass breakup vs. Wyoming ... three tackles and a half-sack at New Mexico ... two tackles and 0.5 TFL vs. FAU ... four tackles vs. Utah State...also blocked a PAT, his second-career blocked kick (PAT vs. Colorado in 2019) ... two tackles and a QB hurry at Navy ... recorded three tackles and a sack for 11 yards vs. Lafayette in first game since 2019, went over the 100-tackle mark for his career in the game ... NFLPA Preseason Big Board selection ... Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List selection ... returned to the Academy after missing 2020 ... led all active Falcons with 29.5 TFL and 15.5 sacks, second in total tackles with 140 ... led all active players in career games played with 49 ... ranks second in AF history in career sack yardage with 137 ... ranks eighth in AF history in career TFL yardage with 181.
2020 – Did not see any action.
2019 – Played in all 13 games, starting 12 … was a preseason all-Mountain West selection … earned honorable mention all-MW and was second-team all-Colorado by the National Football Foundation … recorded 38 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks … had a team-best four quarterback hurries, along with two pass breakups … had a career-high nine tackles and a quarterback sack vs. Army … had eight tackles and a tackle for loss at Navy … four tackles, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries vs. San Jose State … one tackle, a quarterback hurry and his first-career blocked kick at Colorado … the block was on an extra point in the fourth quarter to keep the Air Force lead at seven points … two tackles, a quarterback hurry and a half sack vs. Colgate … leads all active Falcons in career tackles for loss with 17.0 and quarterback sacks with 8.0.
2018 – Played and started all 12 games … named second-team all-Mountain West, the first defensive lineman and first sophomore to earn the honor since 2014 … recorded 54 total tackles and team bests of 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks … ranked seventh in the Mountain West with 1.04 tackles for loss per game … had at least one tackle for loss in eight games … four tackles and a pass breakup vs. Colorado State … four tackles and a tackle for loss at Wyoming … matched his career high with seven tackles and had two sacks for 13 yards vs. New Mexico … six tackles vs. Boise State … had a streak of four straight games with at least a tackle for loss … six tackles and a pass breakup (on UNLV's final play) at UNLV … three tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss at San Diego State … season highs in total tackles (seven), solo stops (five) and tackles for loss (3.5) vs. Navy … his 3.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Falcon in 2018 … four tackles and a tackle for loss vs. Nevada and Florida Atlantic … four tackles and a tackle for loss vs. Stony Brook in his first-career start.
2017 – Played in 11 games … recorded seven total tackles, including six unassisted … recorded a career-best five tackles vs. New Mexico … had one tackle each vs. San Diego State and Colorado State.
High School – Lettered four years in football, one in wrestling and one in weight lifting … was a two-time all-city selection in football … earned all-state honorable mention as a senior … high school football coach was Corky Rogers … played on same football team as former Air Force teammate Kyle Johnson.
Personal – Parents are Henry, Jr. and Dorothy … has two siblings … major is management … nickname is JJ … attended the USAFA Prep School and played football … completed survival training, the basic space operations program and a program in remote piloted aircraft in the summer of 2018 … completed an engineering class and was on the cadet leadership cadre in the summer of 2019.
Career Highs
UT:........ 5, Navy, 2018
AT:......... 7, Army, 2019
TOT:.......9, Army, 2019
TFL:........3.5, Navy, 2018
Career Statistics
Tackles
Year G U-A TOT TFL Sacks
2021 13 24-17 41 12.5-91 7.5-79
2019 13 16-22 38 4.5-30 3.5-26
2018 12 27-27 54 12.5-60 4.5-32
2017 11 6-1 7 0.0-0 0.0-0
Total 49 73-67 140 29.5-181 15.5-137
Players Mentioned
Monday, December 29
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Friday, November 28
Tuesday, November 25
