Georgia received a huge football commitment Monday.
Jahzare Jackson – a 6-foot-11, 340-pound tackle – is making the switch from basketball to football to play for the Bulldogs. Jackson will be part of Georgia's 2024 class and is eligible to join the football roster this summer after an interesting journey that included playing with Bronny James at one point.
MORE: Georgia enters 2024 as consensus No. 1 in preseason polls
Jahzare Jackson was a standout at Overtime Elite
Jackson was a three-star basketball recruit at IMG Academy in the class of 2023. He opted to play for Overtime Elite – a semi-pro basketball league based in Atlanta. He averaged 12 points and seven rebounds for the City Reapers, which won the league championship this season.
Jackson also was a teammate of Bronny James for the North Coast Blue Chips in AAU Basketball. Jackson had several opportunities to play in front of LeBron James.
Jackson showed impressive skills in the post during Overtime Elite action this year, which produced several highlights:
7-Foot Jahzare Jackson dominated the paint in Phoenix 😤 @OvertimeElite pic.twitter.com/AgC91QQP7X
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) January 10, 2024
Will Jahzare Jackson play at Georgia?
Jackson last played football as an eighth grader on the Westminster Christian Academy varsity in Florida, but he attracted interest after announcing the switch to football at the end of the Overtime Elite season. Jackson visited Florida, Florida State and Mississippi State before taking an official visit to Georgia on June 21.
Jackson impressed on the camp circuit and accepted an offer to play at Georgia on July 8.
🚨Jahzare Jackson (@jahzarre) has committed to Georgia🚨
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 8, 2024
Jackson is a former basketball player that is making the switch to football. He is 6-11 330lbs and will be playing OT at Georgia 👀
(🎥: @AhktamusPrime54) pic.twitter.com/fGoTXqDtcQ
From a size perspective, Jackson will fit well with the Bulldogs offensive line. Senior Xavier Truss (6-7, 320) and redshirt sophomore Earnest Greene III (6-4, 320) are the projected starters at tackle, and redshirt freshman Bo Hughley (6-7, 280) and sophomore Monroe Freeling (6-7, 310) are the backups.
The incoming freshman class also features four-star tackles Daniel Calhoun (6-6, 350), Michael Uini (6-7, 335), Marques Easley (6-5, 335) and Nyier Daniels (6-8, 365). There is a lot of competition, and Jackson – who is seen as a project at the position – will have a lot of work before entertaining playing time.
“I'm excited by it, I'm ready to embrace the process and get better at the end of the day,” Jackson told the Athletic. “I trust my athletic abilities to get me there and to handle my business at the end of the day.”
Is Jahzare Jackson the tallest player in football?
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper – who is 6-foot-10 – played at Arkansas from 2013-16. He is the tallest active player in the NFL. According to The Athletic, Jackson says he is 6-foot-11. Jacksonville State tackle Tom Hadary measures at 6-foot-11.
Perhaps Jackson will make Sporting News' list of NFL players who could play in the NBA in the future.
