The Arkansas Razorbacks are replacing a unique talent in Rocket Sanders, but Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson has brought stability to the running back room this offseason. After beginning his career as a quarterback before taking over as go-to ballcarrier, Jackson hopes to finish his collegiate journey with a bang as the Hogs’ top rusher.
[Related: Braylen Russell poised to pop as true freshman at Arkansas]
Jackson, a Duncanville (Texas) High School graduate who began his career at Texas during the 2020 season, made the switch to running back during the 2022 season. He finished with 581 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 78 attempts (6.8 average) as a redshirt sophomore at Utah before running for 797 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.
At 6-foot-2 and 234 pounds, Jackson’s physicality is what first caught the eye of Arkansas’ first-year running back coach Kolby Smith.
“He’s a runner,” Smith said. “He definitely runs smooth with it. He does everything that you ask of him as a runner. He does a great job on between-the-tackle runs because he’s big and powerful. I just can’t wait to see him play.”
While the size and power may stick out to his position coach, Jackson is looking to show people that his game is more well-rounded than they might expect.
“The thing I’ve tried to work the most on is change of direction,” Jackson said. “I’ve been trying to get my juking down a little bit better and stuff like that so I won’t be labeled as a power back. I don’t really like that because it seems like I’m one-dimensional, and I’m not.”
Jackson enters the season highly motivated. Though he appeared in 12 games last season, Jackson feels that some nagging injuries kept him from reaching his full potential and hopes to prove that in a big way as a senior at Arkansas.
“I’ve been trying to prove a point,” Jackson said. “Last year, I was going through injuries that I really couldn’t help, just trying to play through injuries and stuff like that. This year, I pray and hope that it’ll be different because this is my last run in college football. This is definitely the year that I have to make my mark, basically.”
Jackson joins junior returner Rashod Dubinion, who ran for 260 yards and a touchdown last season, in the Arkansas backfield. With the duo set to lead the Razorback rushing attack, Smith appreciates the leadership each guy brings to a position group that features some intriguing young talent.
“Leadership and experience,” Smith said. “They’ve been out there in those games. They know what it feels like. They do a great job of teaching the younger guys when we’re in the meeting room or when they’re in the back. Watching, taking those mental reps with the guys. I can hear them in there doing a great job.”
The Arkansas Razorbacks will open the 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 29 against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock (Ark.). Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will be televised nationally on ESPNU.