Jackson grew up in New Ellenton, South Carolina and attended Silver Bluff High School.

[1] Jackson suffered a season-ending injury four games into his freshman year and used a medical redshirt.

He played in the first eight games of his redshirt freshman season before again suffering a season-ending injury and finished the year with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

[5] Jackson recorded 54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his redshirt senior season and was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-Conference, and a first team All-American by the Associated Press.

[6][7] Jackson was selected in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.