UPrep senior Jordan Jackson becomes first to commit to D1 college ball in school’s history

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — UPrep is a relatively new school, so when their football team started to make some noise, it caught the attention of a lot of people.

Then there are the individual athletes and their achievements. One senior on the team just made some new history.

Senior Jordan Jackson always knew football was the sport for him.

"I really knew it from the beginning since watching people like Calvin Johnson make all those plays," Jackson said. "I really fell in love with football at a young age."

He took it up at a young age. Then, Jackson took his talents to UPrep, where he’s turned heads.

"He just kind of has that ‘it’ factor," said his head coach, Isiah Young. "Whether it’s running the ball, whether it be defensively or getting the ball offensively, he’s going to make a play and that’s kind of the biggest thing with him."

Young isn’t the only one who’s taking notice. Others in Section VI are impressed with Jackson’s ability so much so that he’s been deemed "the real deal" by heads of other programs.

Those praises are well warranted. A few weeks ago, the senior committed to Central Connecticut for Football. The first in the school’s young history.

"Very special knowing the passion of UPrep, how it just started a couple of years back," Young said. "We’re a new school, not a lot of history so I’m very blessed."

Young says there is something about Jackson that takes him by surprise.

"Usually, a D1 kid is sometimes serious, might be not as humble as they should be and it’s kind of the opposite with him," Young said. "When it’s on the Football field, he’s very serious and the minute he gets off the Football field, he’s one of the funnier guys around."

And though the decision has been made and his next chapter is all but locked in, there’s still a title to win this year and a key component of that? Team chemistry.

"To go far, you got to actually like each other," Young said.

"You gotta actually be brothers and that’s what coach Young emphasizes on the team, actually coming together and liking each other," Jackson said.