Somewhat like Superman, Jarrett Jackson unzipped his sweatshirt Wednesday afternoon to reveal a red Louisville T-shirt.
The Palm Beach Gardens tight end/defensive end kept everyone guessing before sticking with the Cardinals on the first day of the 2018 early signing period for football.
Palm Beach Gardens tight end/defensive end Jarrett Jackson stuck with Louisville Wednesday. The Palm Beach Gardens senior had been considering South Carolina. (Richard Graulich/Palm Beach Post)
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound senior originally committed to Louisville in August, but was being courted heavily down the stretch by South Carolina.
During his signing ceremony held at a Palm Beach Gardens restaurant Wednesday afternoon, Jarrett brought a South Carolina hat and a Louisville visor with him.
The big reveal came near the end of lunch, and it was met with applause from Jackson’s coaches, teammates, family and friends.
“I went with my gut on this one,” he said. “The whole journey has been a process with schools coming after me, but I stayed true to myself. I had to make a separate decision for myself, and go to the best place for me.”
Jackson, who finished the 2017 season with 14 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, said the decision to stick with Louisville was a difficult one, as he was impressed with South Carolina and coach Will Muschamp.
“I feel like Coach Muschamp and his staff are a great coaching staff,” he said. “They did great this past season. They went 8-4. Coach Muschamp’s track record with defensive players is really high. They produce great athletes.”
Ultimately, Jackson stuck with Louisville, where he’ll be joined by Benjamin quarterback Jordan Travis, who signed with the Cardinals Wednesday morning.
“It feels great going up there with somebody I know,” Jackson said. “We have a relationship. It’ll be a great thing.”
Travis, said Jackson, was “in my ear every day” down the stretch.
“He was making sure I didn’t flip on him,” Jackson said. “We have a great relationship, so he was making sure I stick with them.”
Jackson said he plans to play defensive end at Louisville, and will enroll early.
