Ja’Quinden Jackson possibly set for big season with Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Utah transfer running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is possibly set to have a big season at Arkansas this fall.

Jackson, 6-2, 233, is a redshirt senior from Duncanville (Texas). He topped Utah in rushing in 2023 with 161 carries for 797 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. He also caught nine passes for 53 yards. Jackson was one of the players who didn’t scrimmage on Thursday due to a minor injury.

“I’m cool,” Jackson said of how he’s feeling a day later. “I’m good. I’m taking it a day at a time. I’m straight.”

Kolby Smith, who coaches the running backs for Arkansas, is pleased to have a back the size of Jackson.

“He’s a runner,” Smith said. “He’s definitely a runner. He’s smooth with it. I think he can do everything that you ask him out of 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.”

Smith was asked on Friday following practice where Jackson has made the most strides from the spring until now?

“Just understanding where we want him, where he fits into the passing game, knowing where he is within the progression of the play,” Smith said. “So, that allows him to say, ‘Okay, if I’m third in progression, I can spend a little bit more time in pass protection and then get to where I need to be within the timing of the play.'”

Jackson was asked how he thinks the camp has gone through nine preseason practices and the season now less than three weeks away?

“It’s been a grind,” Jackson said. “Two-and-a-half practices are a killer. So I ain’t never been through it before. But it’s been cool. The structure of it is organized, so it’s been a good camp so far.”

Jackson admitted the practices at Arkansas have been very different than Utah in length of time on the field.

“Oh, no,” Jackson said. “It was probably an hour and a half we were out of there.”

Smith was asked when Jackson and Rashod Dubinion, the two oldest running backs are healthy what they bring to the team?

“Leadership and experience, because they’ve been out there in those games,” Smith said. “They know what it feels like, and they do a great job of teaching the younger guys in the room. When we’re in the meeting room or when they’re in the back and watching, taking those mental reps with the guys, they’re saying hey, this and that. I can hear them, and they’re doing a good job.

“It’s a good group. The chemistry in the room is good. It’s a nice brotherhood that we have building and growing. A lot of them are roommates now that weren’t. When I came here in the spring, nobody was roommates, but now they’re becoming roommates. They live with each other, so I can tell the brotherhood is growing.”

If, as expected, Jackson and Dubinion are the top two backs on the depth chart how does Smith see the carries split?

“Man, whatever they got to do to help us win games is what it’s all about,” Smith said. “I really don’t get into, ‘I want to see this player carry the ball this many times or this player carry the ball that many times.’ I just think their presence on the field is enough because we can lean on their experience.”

Jackson was asked what kind of relationship he has with Smith and what he learned from him in the spring?

“As you all know, he came from the Miami Dolphins last year, so he’s given me the aspect of what to expect next year,” Jackson said. “He basically has tried to talk to me as if he still an NFL coach. So he tells me what to expect. He’s been great.”

Jackson offered up his thoughts on the running backs that were able to scrimmage such as Braylen Russell, Rodney Hill and Tyrell Reed.

“They got a lot of work to do, I can honestly say that,” Jackson said. “But they played their tails off every play, every down and they are very coachable. I’ll give them a few pointers like, ‘Hey, do this or do that,’ and they take it and they run with it. So we’ve got a very coachable room.”

Jackson came in at the same time that quarterback Taylen Green moved over from Boise State. Jackson talked about the relationship the pair have.

“We just hold each other accountable,” Jackson said. “For us to have a great offense this year, we all have to hold each other accountable and that’s basically what he was doing. I was getting a little frustrated at practice today and he just told me, ‘Hey bro, I’m here with you. Come on, keep going.’ That kind of like calmed me down a little bit and made me keep pushing.”

With Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator the Hogs have used a little bit of the I-formation. Jackson’s thoughts on that?

“I’m an athlete, man,” Jackson said. “Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it. It don’t matter, as long as the ball is in my hands. Any way they can get me the ball, I’m fine with it.”

Smith has said he was the most violent running back when he played and wants Jackson and this group to do the same. Jackson smiled when asked that Smith’s claim.

“I haven’t seen no tape,” Jackson said. “Until he shows us some tape, I don’t believe it. Bro, cut on the tape. Let me see it. No feel, no nothing. So I don’t believe it.”

Jackson plays with a chip on his shoulder. Is that new at Arkansas or did you have that at Utah as well?

“Really, it just been every year I’ve been trying to prove a point,” Jackson said. “Last year, I was just going through injuries that I really going couldn’t help. Just trying to play through injuries and stuff like that. This year, I pray and hope that it will be different because this is my last run in college football. This is definitely the year that I have to leave my mark basically.”

Jackson was asked if there has been a description of him that maybe, in his mind, isn’t accurate?

“Decent speed is an understatement,” Jackson said.

This will be Jackson’s last year in college. On Friday, he spoke to what it’s like knowing next year will be completely different for him.

“I’m just soaking it all in,” Jackson said. “Because this is probably going to be my last one. So I’m really just soaking it all up and trying to enjoy it with my teammates. And just take it day by day.”

Arkansas will return to the practice fields on Saturday at 9 a.m.