High school football hotbeds California, Florida and Texas receive the glitz and glam. It's no secret these massive states produce elite talent destined for the NFL, but often forgotten is Alabama. The Heart of Dixie has produced names like Phillip Rivers, Terrell Owens, Julio Jones and of course Bo Jackson.
Auburn wide receiver Shedrick Jackson carries the same Yellowhammer State DNA heading into his senior season, which adds to the DNA he touts as the nephew of 1985 Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson.
Everybody knows Bo from his Pro Bowl selection with the Los Angeles Raiders and MLB All-Star game appearance with the Kansas City Royals. Before that, and the infamous hip injury that cut down his career, no one stopped the Bessemer, Alabama, native in the Southeastern Conference.
Three All-SEC first team selections and two Consensus All-American honors elevated Jackson to mythological levels. He'll remain on lists of the Auburn Tigers' all-time football players forever, and hopefully, his nephew gets remembered for his own legacy on The Plains.
Auburn WR Shedrick Jackson: Bo Jackson's Nephew
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1jw-xpHkH4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
"Listen, Nephew. Back in my day..."
Bo Jackson and nephew/Auburn WR commit Shedrick Jackson before the Auburn-Ole Miss game... pic.twitter.com/IHhIGNAMUG— Jeffrey Lee (@JLeeAULive) October 7, 2017
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When Shedrick Jackson arrived at Auburn University in the spring of 2018, comparisons to his famous uncle began. But sharing a last name with arguably the most dominant athlete to ever live comes with hefty expectations. It was how polished and physically gifted Jackson was coming out of high school that surprised coaches and members of the athletics department.
"He came to our camp and did a great job with his route running coming in and out of breaks," former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said in 2017 after Jackson's commitment. "He ran a 4.4. We think he's got a chance to be a real special player, too."
Jackson stood about 6-foot-2 and weighed 200 pounds. Rated as a three-star prospect and top-10 player in Alabama by 247Sports, Jackson helped the Hoover Buccaneers to a Class 7A state championship before committing to Auburn over Mississippi State, Missouri, Georgia Tech and Memphis among several FBS offers.
In Hoover's 48-20 dismantling of McGill-Toolen in that title game, Jackson caught six passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Teammate George Pickens, now with the Georgia Bulldogs, caught two passes for 61 yards and two TDs in that game.
Shedrick Jackson then entered The Plains to carry on his uncle's incredible legacy.
Shedrick Jackson Auburn
Though his collegiate stats don't reflect much, Jackson's started 12 games in three years and is poised for an expanded role in Auburn football's offense under new head coach Bryan Harsin. With offensive coordinator Chad Morris returning on campus for the 2021 season, in addition to the development of junior quarterback Bo Nix, Jackson could be in the mix for a breakout year.
Alongside a talented receiving corps that included Seth Williams, Anthony Schwartz and Eli Stove, Jackson didn't have the chance to be a key contributor in Auburn's offense last year. It didn't help that injuries kept him out of contests against teams like Kentucky and Ole Miss.
In 2021, however, following the departure of Williams, it could be Jackson's time to become a high-priority option for the War Eagle offense at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Oh, and don't forget about Caylin Newton, the brother of Cam Newton who also plays wide receiver for Auburn.
Throughout his three seasons at Auburn, his most memorable moment was his two-point conversion during the 2019 Iron Bowl which helped the Tigers stun the Crimson Tide. He also caught a 37-yard pass against Alabama in 2020, proving he too can torch Alabama like his uncle:
You might not have known him before, but heading into the 2021 college football season, say hello to Bo...I mean, Shedrick Jackson. He could be the Tigers' breakout star.
