Aggies DL McKinnley Jackson Named To Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List

McKinley Jackson is on another preseason watch list entering 2023.

McKinnley Jackson is looking to be a part of Texas A&M's team success in 2023. Individually, he's going to have a chance to garner national recognition, as well. 

Jackson was named to the Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List, the Rotary Club of Houston announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.

This marks the second preseason watch list Jackson has been named to entering the new season. The 6-2 Mississippi native was added to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, an award given to the nation's top interior lineman.  

Named to the preseason All-SEC Second Team defense, Jackson served as one of the Aggies' team captains for the 2022 season. In eight games, he recorded 37 tackles and finished second in tackles for loss with seven. Jackson also recorded a pair of sacks and 14 total pressures from the nose tackle position under first-year coordinator D.J. Durkin. 

Jackson's best game came against No. 15 Ole Miss, where he recorded a career-best 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He earned the team's Aggie Defense Leadership and Defensive MVP honors at the annual team banquet.

To be considered for the Rotary Lombardi Award, players must be a NCAA FBS College Football team member and meet the following qualifications:

• Be a down lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than ten (10) yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap.

• Be a linebacker on defense, setting up no further than five (5) yards deep from the line of scrimmage.

• Must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a blocker or a receiver or listed in the program as an offensive back or receiver.

• Be eligible to participate in the current season.

Semifinalists for the Lombardi Award will be announced on Nov. 1, 2023, while the four finalists for the award will be revealed on Nov. 15, 2023. The winner will be announced at the 46th Rotary Lombardi Award dinner, which will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.

Jackson and the Aggies open the regular season at Kyle Field on Sept. 2 against New Mexico. 

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