The overlooking of Ja'Quinden Jackson could benefit Arkansas Football

The running back room has been the foundation of Razorbacks’ football for the last few years. From top to bottom, it was the most talented position group on the team. 

However, all but Rashod Dubinion Transferred away after last season. Fortunately, the recruiting never stopped. Arkansas brought in a true freshman built like a tank. Braylen Russell stands at 6-foot-1-inch tall and 253 pounds. He already has the size of an every-down type of back. While that may be true, he's still an underclassman with no experience.

Instead, that’s what Ja’Quinden Jackson brings to the table. Jackson is a 6-foot-2-inch, 233-pound redshirt senior transfer from Utah. While in the Beehive State, he recorded 1,358 yards rushing on 245 carries for 5.5 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns. That's including his redshirt freshman season as the backup quarterback.

For being as big as he is, he’s incredibly shifty. One of the things he does well is avoiding the first threat in traffic. His favorite thing to do is spin out tackles, making it look as easy as pressing the “B” button in College Football 25. 

Not only is he a talented running back, he has the mindset of a quarterback, the position he played in high school that landed him a scholarship at Texas. His experience helps QB Taylen Green on the field, essentially giving Arkansas two QBs. “[Jackson] played quarterback, so he gets a lot of stuff, and he understands defense," said Green. "He understands fronts and all that, so it's great to, you know, have that in the backfield with me.”

All around, the Dallas, Texas native is talented, but his attitude will set him apart this fall. Jackson seems to have a massive chip on his shoulder. What's more, the national media continues to slight him at every possible turn. Jackson was nowhere to be seen on any all-conference selection before yesterday.

On Monday, College Football Network gave him an honorable mention in its preseason All-SEC selections. While most think that's good, players with a "the world is against me" mindset can turn it into fuel. Before, there was plausible deniability that the national media just didn't know his game. With the All-SEC honorable mention from College Football Network, there's no denying it. They choose not to name him All-SEC.

Whether or not he deserves the accolades isn't the point. Not getting them is the fuel that drives players like Jackson, and the more slights he gets from the outside world, the more coal is added to his furnace.