Big time juco defensive end commits to the Buffaloes

California has been good to your Colorado Buffaloes this recruiting cycle. More than half of the 2019 class comes from the Golden State, and the Buffs haven’t had to look far to find these difference makers. Datona Jackson, however, is a hidden gem.

When the Buffs first offered Datona, he had offers from San Diego State, San Jose State, and not much else. Jackson, who plays at College of the Desert in southern California and has three years to play two, started coming on strong near the end of his freshman campaign. Since coming on strong his sophomore year, he has received an offer from UCLA and interest from almost every other Pac-12 program. The Buffs were rewarded for the proactiveness with a commitment from one of the most complete JuCo defensive lineman in the country.

Jackson is perfect for a 3-4 defense. At 6’4 and a solid 280 pounds, he has perfect size for a defensive end and can even slide in on passing downs if necessary. His tape shows many of the attributes that has made Mustafa Johnson so successful. He explodes off the snap and can often out-quick the offensive tackle, even at his size. His quick feet let him change directions quickly and his motor runs really hot. The plus is that he’s also naturally big, so he can set the edge well. Coming in as a junior (with a redshirt available), Jackson will slot right into the rotation, ostensibly replacing Chris Mulumba’s snaps on the edge.

Welcome, Datona!