Jordan “JJ” Jackson played youth league football, but upon entering his freshman year at Woodgrove High School (Purcellville, VA) he decided to give up the gridiron. After playing only basketball as a freshman and sophomore, Jackson wanted to give football another try. The decision turned out to be a great one for the University of Virginia’s newest class of 2014 recruit.

It was the spring of 2012 when Woodgrove standout running back Josh Sweet approached then newly named head coach Mike Skinner.

“Josh Sweet told me, ‘Coach. I have a guy for you,'” said Skinner, who served as Stone Bridge defensive coordinator from 2008-2011. For many years up until 2007, he was head coach at Centreville (Clifton, VA), where he compiled an 88-25 record including a state championship in 2000. “I was still at Stone Bridge at the time, but I came over and met [Jackson]. When I met him, he was probably 6’3″, 180 pounds. Now, he is 6’4″, 215 or 220 pounds. He really fell in love with the weight room.”

At the time, Jackson was not driven by aspirations to play major college football. But Skinner, who has coached his share of major college prospects, felt the potential was there.

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