Mobile, Ala - It's been a busy last two months for Illinois State safety Keondre Jackson. After the Redbirds' season ended in the second round of the FCS championship against the University of California-Davis in December, Jackson was invited to the Hula Bowl and put on a show, racking up seven tackles and two interceptions. That performance led to his invitation to this year's Senior Bowl just eight days before players started arriving.
"It's a blessing man, just to get the chance and the opportunity (to be here). All you can ask for is the opportunity," Jackson said. "Being able to come out here and play from the FCS and be one of the top guys out here, it's just a blessing, it's an honor knowing you can play anywhere. FCS, FBS it doesn't matter, if you can play ball, you can play ball."
Jackson certainly lived up to that idea, as he was named the best defensive back for the National Team, as voted on by the wide receivers and tight ends on his squad.
Keondre Jackson
Position: Safety
School: Illinois State
Year: Senior
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215 lbs
Top Speed During the Week (Via Zebra Sports): 20.45 MPH (approximately 4.3-4.4 40-yard dash time)
2024 Season Stats: 98 total tackles, three interceptions (one pick-six), six PBU's, two FF, 1.5 sacks
Current Draft Projection: Day 3 Pick (via The Wright Way Network)
Career Overview
Jackson came to Illinois State after attending Nebraska-Kearney in the fall of 2020 and then entered the transfer portal. He redshirted in the spring 2021 season, before starting that fall. In his three seasons with the Redbirds, he was productive, racking up five interceptions (two pick-sixes), but it was his senior season that he popped off the page. Jackson picked off three passes, broke up six more, had two forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks as a safety. For his efforts, he was named one of two FCS All-Americans from ISU (linebacker Tye Niekamp).
Player Comparison: Grant Delpit
If you're looking for safety who can do it all in the run game, has good size and speed, and can still play excellent coverage, you look at the Cleveland Browns Grant Delpit. The two had very similar stats in college, with Delpit putting up 65 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven passes defended with LSU back in 2019. Since coming to the league, he's put up 66 or more tackles per season and he graded out as an average coverage safety with a PFF grade of 60.9 in 2024. While the two played at very different levels in college, with Delpit playing in the SEC with LSU, they both played at an elite level and did it in very similar ways.
The Fit
The safety situation for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Chicago Bears is in a deep need for more talent. The Dolphins do have Javon Holland as their deep zone safety, but they put a bandaid on their box safety with Jordan Poyer, and their other two players (Elijah Campbell and Patrick McMorris) are not up to snuff yet to be considered for the other starting spot. Denver is still searching for their next Justin Simmons after cutting him last off-season, and the Colts' Nick Cross and Julian Blackmon are similar players who need a box safety to complement either one of them. As for the Bears, it doesn't quite make as much sense to the other teams I mentioned, but Kevin Byard is a pending free agent and it's unknown whether he will return. Even if he does come back, the Bears are incredibly thin at safety, so using a 4th or 5th-round pick on Jackson would be a welcome addition not just for the Bears, but any of the other teams I mentioned.
Here's my full interview with Jackson after day two of Senior Bowl practices: