Vikings' Dallas Turner Honors Khyree Jackson: As Long as I'm Alive I'll Rep His Name

Minnesota Vikings rookie linebacker Dallas Turner knew Khyree Jackson well before they were both part of the NFC North team's 2024 draft class, and he took time before Thursday's practice to honor the cornerback who died in a car accident on July 6 at the age of 24.

As ESPN's Kevin Seifert shared, Turner knelt at one of the memorials the team put in place and said he will attend Jackson's funeral on Friday:

"I talk to him all the time ... and get the chills every single time I talk to him," Turner said. "So, I know he's watching over me."

Seifert noted the linebacker has Jackson's nameplate above his own in the team's locker room and said, "as long as I'm alive, I'll rep his name."

Jackson and Turner were college teammates at Alabama for two seasons before the former transferred to Oregon ahead of the 2023 campaign. Their lockers were also close to each other with the Crimson Tide, and they grew close well before they were drafted.

"So that was really a dude that I saw every single day," Turner said. "And really [I've seen] him grow from Alabama to when he went to Oregon. He went through his trials and tribulations over there. We ended up at the same place once again. So, I kind of felt like that meant something, and that was my dude every single day after practice [this spring]. He was around with me at the hotel, hanging out with each other in the hotel every day and just talking crap and stuff like that with each other, just having fun.

"That was a dude that really helped me grow as a person. He helped me realize who I was, and he helped me build my confidence off the field and on the field in a way. But he [was] definitely a very impactful person."

Minnesota selected Turner with a first-round pick in the 2024 draft. It then selected Jackson with a fourth-round pick.

Thursday was the first time Turner spoke to reporters since Jackson's death.

Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reported the Vikings will honor Jackson with helmet decals for the players and pins for the coaches that have the initials "KJ." What's more, nobody will wear his No. 31.

The team is also paying out the rest of his signing bonus to his estate.