Antione Jackson's journey has taken a new turn.
2023 was a pivotal year for the former four-star cornerback from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard. That should have been his senior year of high school, but a strong academic standing enabled Jackson to graduate a year early so he reclassified from 2024 to the 2023 class.
He initially signed with Miami, but later asked for a release so he could attend East Carolina alongside his girlfriend, Karina Gordon, a women's basketball player for the Pirates.
Jackson was 17 years old during his freshman season at ECU, playing in 10 games and starting three. He finished with 19 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception, which was a pick-six. He earned a PFF season grade of 66.3.
Looking for a fresh opportunity with an eye on returning to his home state, Jackson hit the transfer portal following the season. Nebraska, Utah and Colorado were among his many offers. However, UCF had the combination of location, familiarity and opportunity.
"They reached out pretty quickly," Jackson said. "I didn't know UCF was still interested in me. A lot of schools hit me up, but UCF stood out."
His connection with the program goes back to his sophomore year, when he first visited with his 7-on-7 team. The Knights had been recruiting him since his freshman year, leaving a lasting impression.
"When I came here, I wanted to hear about straight football and how I could make the program better," Jackson said.
With Corey Thornton and Decorian Patterson moving on, he'll have an immediate opportunity to contribute at cornerback, but can also play nickel and safety.
"I'm a corner that can lock down," Jackson said. "I can play all three positions in the back end, and I can turn the ball over."
On the field, Jackson said he's known as a ball hawk.
"Put me in man-to-man coverage the whole game if you want or zone coverage, it doesn't matter to me."
Transitioning to UCF has been seamless for Jackson, who finds comfort in the familiar Florida weather and environment. He also has a great connection with UCF's secondary coaches, Addison Williams and Trovon Reed.
"Coach Addison (Williams) is a cool guy," Jackson said. "I can see myself building a bond with him outside of football which is very important. He can help me as a man, not just as a football player.
"Coach (Trovon) Reed is a great guy. We've only been communicating for a week now, but it's been great so far. He did recruit me at Auburn. I knew him from back then during my sophomore year in high school. I'm very excited for this year."
Looking ahead, Jackson has ambitious personal and team goals.
"For myself, I have a lot of goals," Jackson said. "One goal is to win the National Championship with this team. Being a National Champion would mean a lot to me. My goal is to up my draft stock. I want to be the best version of myself. Create more turnovers. I want to catch double-digit interceptions. I want to ball out this year."
2024 is the debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff, making the path to a championship much more clear.
"I don't care if it's a four-team playoff, eight teams, or 12 teams," Jackson said. "We're gonna win a Natty this year. I'm very excited. We've got the guys. Every position has got depth. We have great players at every position. This is gonna be the year."
