When you’re fresh off a Mr. Football season and at 6-foot-2 can pluck most anything out of the sky, sometimes you get the kitchen sink thrown at you.
That’s the reality for Tennessee football commit Radarious Jackson when he lines up at wide receiver for Sheffield.
“Put the whole team on him,” one opposing fan yelled at Thursday night’s jamboree, which also featured Southwind and White Station at Halle Stadium.
Seconds prior, Jackson had run a simple go route and leaped to pull down a 25-yard pass between two defenders.
Such plays prompt double teams and then some. Last season, it affected him little — he recorded nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards and reached the end zone 29 times.
“It’s our job to move Radarious around to get one-on-ones and seize those opportunities,” Sheffield coach Edward Kuykendoll said after the game.
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Jackson finished the night with two catches as he continues to build chemistry with first-year starting quarterback Elijah Brinson, who moved to the Knights from Craigmont.
“We got to clean up some things on offense to make sure we own the ball and have ball security throughout the season,” Kuykendoll said.
Ultimately, he knows he’ll be able to rely on his senior receiver to make big plays when the lights are on.
“I feel confident that he can win the 50/50 ball and whatever we throw to him, he’s gonna make the play,” he said.
Jackson on Tennessee football pledge
Jackson, a highly pursued four-star recruit, said in an earlier interview that he’s relieved to be going into his senior season with recruiting questions behind him, and with Knoxville waiting on the other side.
“I’d say the recruiting process was hard with all of the different coaches coming at you,” Jackson said.
Volunteers coaches made a strong connection with Jackson; those relationships and the visits to Knoxville were key factors leading to his commitment in April.
“What attracted me to Tennessee is that I’m big on building bonds with coaches, and I was able to build a bond with (wide receivers) Coach (Kelsey) Pope, Coach (Josh) Heupel and the whole coaching staff,” Jackson said.
On the football end of things, he likes the staff’s vision for him in Tennessee’s high-flying spread offense. But before that vision is realized, he hopes to have another standout high school season and has his sight set on a state championship.
“My goal is to win the gold ball,” he said.
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is the high school sports beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com. Follow Wendell on X, formerly known as Twitter, @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Sheffield football’s Radarious Jackson on last season before Tennessee
