In the spring of 2024, murmurs of a true freshman defender performing well beyond his years started to trickle out of the Switzer Center.
David Stone, a five-star phenom defensive lineman out of IMG Academy, was the crown jewel of the Sooners 2024 signing class — but it was his roommate and high school teammate, Jayden Jackson, who was turning heads.
With every spring practice update and message board post, Jackson's first impressions grew to impressive proportions. Eventually, it was suggested that he might be the first true freshman to start along the defensive line in more than two decades.