4-Star LB Dontavious Jackson Shares Latest in Recruitment

With more and more athletes becoming hybrids on the football field—a welcomed trait with many college football recruits—Dontavious Jackson is more of a purist when it comes to his position.

He's a middle linebacker. A "Mike," if you will. And good Mikes are hard to come by.

"A lot of schools are telling me a true Mike is a rarity," Jackson said. "To have the size, speed and strength combined with leadership and intelligence, it's hard to find out there.

"I want to provide that for a team."

Jackson, a 4-star talent from Houston, is the nation's No. 5 inside linebacker. At 6'2" and 248 pounds, he has the size. As someone who's run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, he has the speed to man the inside. As someone who bench-presses 330 pounds and squats 600, he also has the strength.

Combine that with a high football IQ and the will to get better each day, and Jackson is one of those athletes who easily attract the best college coaches. His offer list, featuring 57 reported offers, serves as proof.

Jackson announced a top 12 over the summer, and he's taken official visits to UCLA and Florida State this month. A Michigan visit was set back in November, but Jackson said trip No. 3 could be destined for another school.

From a recruiting standpoint, he most likely will make his announcement on national signing day. The process for him is slow motion, just the way he likes it. In fact, Jackson said official visit announcements via social media—which is popular among most recruits—will probably not be a thing for him as he continues researching schools in an effort to trim his list.

"I think I'm just going to lay low with it all," Jackson said. "I may post a couple of pics while I'm [at schools], and that's when people will know. I'm not going to really broadcast anything. I'm just ready to sit down and make a decision."

Jackson said he has a few schools in mind for his final two spots, assuming he still takes the Michigan visit next month. Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss are among the contenders. Jackson added that both the UCLA and Florida State visits were excellent and set the bar for the next three.

Jackson said his visits most likely will all be out of state, but that doesn't mean an in-state team is out of the running. Texas and Texas A&M have been battling for him, as have Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech. He said that he is considering taking a couple of unofficial visits during the season and one or two after the season, depending on his schedule.

"I'm not worried about distance," Jackson said of playing out of state. "I really just want to know how I feel about each coaching staff. I want to be where I fit in best, as far as scheme and depth goes.

"I mean, that could mean a school in state. Staying in state is not out of the topic at all."

Credit: 247Sports

For Jackson, playing middle linebacker in the best situation possible is key. He's been watching how teams use their Mikes and if athletes are playing out of position to fill a void. He's noticed with a lot of teams that some linebackers are inserted at the Mike spot because they "have no one else," he said.

"Basically, I can come in and be mature enough to do it early," Jackson said of the position. "My goal is to provide for a team to where it can lead to early playing time and, hopefully, a starting job early.

"A lot of times, teams have Mikes who aren't really Mikes. They're either Wills [weak-side], Sams [strong-side] or Jacks [hybrid linebacker/defensive end]. I'm a Mike, and I think I can be a good Mike for someone."

To say Jackson has a nose for the football is an understatement. In three varsity seasons, he has recorded more than 300 tackles. He finished his junior year with 165 tackles, six sacks and one interception. He had 107 tackles as a sophomore.

Jackson is a college-ready athlete who is excited about the opportunity of playing a position he's studied for years. Now it's all about finding a home to further hone his craft.

"I just want to make sure I get everything scheduled first," he said. "I don't want to lead any school on. I'm just going to take my time and make the right decision."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles