Texas A&M Aggies DL McKinnley Jackson Declares For 2024 NFL Draft

McKinnley Jackson will leave College Station after four years, becoming the second Texas A&M Aggies player to declare for the NFL Draft on Friday

Ainias Smith won't be on the field as a player for Texas A&M in the TaxAct Texas Bowl against No. 20 Oklahoma State. Still, he'll give his opinion on the sidelines to Elijah Robinson and the current staff. 

Will McKinnley Jackson do the same for the defensive line room? Either way, his time as a player for the Aggies is over. 

Jackson officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday via social media. The Mississippi native had one year of eligibility thanks to the COVID-19 waiver awarded to all NCAA athletes in 2020.

"To Coach [Elijah Robinson], Coach [Terry Price], Coach Fisher, Coach [D.J.] Durkin and Coach [Mike] Elko, I can't say thank you enough for developing me in to the best version of myself and pushing me to be great every day," Jackson wrote on social media. "Thank you to my family and friends for believing in me and being my biggest supporters throughout my journey. Lastly, to Texas A&M University, THANK YOU for making this such a memorable experience to play in front of the best fans every week!"

Jackson was one of the nation's top nose tackles in 2023, recording 14 pressures and three sacks. He also totaled 27 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 12 starts. 

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) scrambles away from Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (35) during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium / Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson served as a team captain over the previous two seasons. He earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors in 2020. For his career, Jackson finished with 91 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. 

Only Smith and Jackson have announced their intent to delcare for the draft. Jackson did not specify if he would be playing in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27 at NRG Stadium in Houston, though it seems unlikely giving the timing of the announcement. 

Other seniors who will either declare or leave the program have to announce their decisions on the bowl game. 

Any player who has entered the transfer portal will not be made available for the game. These include defensive linemen Walter Nolen and LT Overton, tight end Jake Johnson, quarterback Max Johnson, offensive linemen Chase Bisontis, Remington Strickland and Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, defensive backs Tyreek Chappell and Jardin Gilbert and receiver Raymond Cottrell. 

Texas A&M Aggies WR Ainias Smith Declares For 2024 NFL Draft, Will Coach In Bowl Game

Robinson, named defensive coordinator at Syracuse last week by first-year coach Fran Brown, will remain with the Aggies through the bowl game before departing for upper New York. First-year coach Mike Elko will take full control following the bowl game.