After spending this spring competing in the XFL, a former Ohio State defensive tackle will get another shot to live out some NFL dreams.
Antwuan Jackson, who went undrafted out of college in 2022 and failed to make the New York Giants’ roster that year after being invited to Rookie Minicamp, signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers Monday.
Jackson spent three seasons at Ohio State, collecting 47 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 3½ sacks. His best season came in his “super senior” year in 2021, when he racked up 23 takedowns and 2½ sacks.
Much like his path to the Panthers, his route to Columbus was anything but typical. OSU finished as the runner-up for his services out of Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove, where Jackson was ranked as the nation’s No. 51 overall prospect and No. 7 defensive tackle.
He signed with Auburn initially, but after redshirting his freshman campaign he transferred to Blinn College, a JUCO school. He was the No. 1 prospect in 247Sports’ rankings following the 2017 season, and committed to Ohio State ahead of the 2018 campaign with three years of eligibility remaining — which ultimately became four with his COVID-19 waiver.
Jackson earned degrees in both human development and family sciences and sociology from OSU. After he failed to make the Giants’ roster in 2022, he entered his name into the XFL Draft and was taken 66th overall by the Seattle Sea Dragons.
After collecting 20 tackles in nine games with Seattle this year, Jackson earned an invite to another rookie minicamp, and this time he proved himself worthy of a spot on the Panthers’ 90-man roster. He’ll compete for a spot on the final 53-man squad come fall.
