Florida State University Athletics
Jackson Selected in Fourth Round of NFL Draft
4/25/2026 12:31:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH – Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. was selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday when the New York Jets picked the Havana, Florida, native 103rd overall. Jackson's selection extends the Seminoles streak with at least one player drafted to 43 consecutive seasons, the seventh-longest active streak among all colleges nationally.
Jackson is the 58th Florida State defensive lineman drafted all-time, and the second consecutive Seminole defensive lineman from Gadsden County High School after Joshua Farmer was also selected in the fourth round in 2025. Jackson is the 39th FSU defensive lineman drafted in the first four rounds.
Jackson is FSU's 303rd all-time draft pick, with 217 of those coming since the Seminoles' current streak began in 1984. In the Modern Era of the draft (since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994), Florida State's 169 draft selections are sixth in the country.
Darrell Jackson Jr. | DT | Round 4 (103 overall) | New York Jets
A two-time All-ACC honorable mention, Jackson started all 25 games he played in three seasons at Florida State, recording 80 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. Over his five-year collegiate career, Jackson played 50 games and tallied 129 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
As the senior leader on defense in 2025, Jackson set a career-high with 45 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. He tied his career-high with seven tackles at NC State and ended his FSU career with six tackles against Florida.
Playing next to his high school teammate Farmer in 2024, Jackson recorded 32 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a career-best 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Along with his All-ACC honors, Jackson earned the Bobby Bowden Leadership Award and had a career-game against Miami, with four tackles, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble.
Forced to miss the 2023 regular season due to NCAA transfer rules, Jackson made his Florida State debut in the Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Georgia, finishing with three tackles.
Jackson spent the 2021 season at Maryland and 2022 at Miami before transferring to Florida State. He started all 12 games for the Hurricanes in 2022 and appeared in 13 games for the Terrapins in 2021, making his first career start in the Pinstripe Bowl.
With the addition of Jackson, the Jets have now drafted 12 Seminoles all-time, including five in the last six years. Jackson joins defensive back Azareye'h Thomas, who was the Jets' third-round pick last year, on the roster. FSU's total draftees by the Jets also includes 2022 first-round selection Jermaine Johnson II who was traded to the Tennessee Titans this offseason.
Jackson is the 58th Florida State defensive lineman drafted all-time, and the second consecutive Seminole defensive lineman from Gadsden County High School after Joshua Farmer was also selected in the fourth round in 2025. Jackson is the 39th FSU defensive lineman drafted in the first four rounds.
Jackson is FSU's 303rd all-time draft pick, with 217 of those coming since the Seminoles' current streak began in 1984. In the Modern Era of the draft (since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994), Florida State's 169 draft selections are sixth in the country.
Darrell Jackson Jr. | DT | Round 4 (103 overall) | New York Jets
A two-time All-ACC honorable mention, Jackson started all 25 games he played in three seasons at Florida State, recording 80 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. Over his five-year collegiate career, Jackson played 50 games and tallied 129 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
As the senior leader on defense in 2025, Jackson set a career-high with 45 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. He tied his career-high with seven tackles at NC State and ended his FSU career with six tackles against Florida.
Playing next to his high school teammate Farmer in 2024, Jackson recorded 32 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, a career-best 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Along with his All-ACC honors, Jackson earned the Bobby Bowden Leadership Award and had a career-game against Miami, with four tackles, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble.
Forced to miss the 2023 regular season due to NCAA transfer rules, Jackson made his Florida State debut in the Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Georgia, finishing with three tackles.
Jackson spent the 2021 season at Maryland and 2022 at Miami before transferring to Florida State. He started all 12 games for the Hurricanes in 2022 and appeared in 13 games for the Terrapins in 2021, making his first career start in the Pinstripe Bowl.
With the addition of Jackson, the Jets have now drafted 12 Seminoles all-time, including five in the last six years. Jackson joins defensive back Azareye'h Thomas, who was the Jets' third-round pick last year, on the roster. FSU's total draftees by the Jets also includes 2022 first-round selection Jermaine Johnson II who was traded to the Tennessee Titans this offseason.
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