GO GET PAID! FSU DT Darrell Jackson Jr. declares for the 2025 NFL Draft

Florida State came into the 2024 season when the Seminoles were thought to have one of the best defensive lines in the country. That was a scary proposition since the Seminoles were losing the likes of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Fabien Lovett Sr.

However, Florida State had pieces returning, such as Joshua Farmer, Patrick Payton, and Darrell Jackson Jr. Plus, the Seminoles added transfer portal prospects such as Marvin Jones Jr., Sione Lolohea, Grady Kelly, and Tomiwa Durojaiye.

One player that the coaching staff was excited for was redshirt junior defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. The Florida native had previous stops at Maryland and Miami before being at Florida State. Jackson Jr. transferred to Florida State to be closer to his ailing mother the previous offseason.

Unfortunately, the NCAA rejected his waiver of playing during the 2023 season due to the two-time transfer rule. I have expressed my thoughts on the terrible decision. However, Jackson Jr. decided to come to Tallahassee in 2024 in hopes of making it to the NFL.

The defensive tackle did not have the season that he wanted where he recorded 32 tackles (4 for loss) and 3.5 sacks. However, on Saturday, he announced that he would be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.

I do not blame him at all for the decision since he has to take care of his mother, and defensive tackle coach Odell Haggins is no longer in the position (even though he is still on the Seminoles in a capacity).

Nonetheless, I wish him and Joshua Farmer nothing but the best as they had to navigate through difficult times. I hope that they set their families up for generations. As for Florida State, they need to get defensive tackles to emerge in their spots after losing both starters at the position.