Maryland Athletics 2021 Hall of Fame Spotlight: D'Qwell Jackson

The adjustment from high school to college for any student is a difficult one to make. For student-athletes, it can be even more difficult. 

The pressure to perform not just in the classroom but on the playing field with thousands of eyes scrutinizing your every move is difficult for even the most well-adjusted person. 

Former Maryland linebacker D’Qwell Jackson didn’t know if he could handle it. 

The Largo, Florida native, uprooted his entire life to come to College Park with the hopes of playing high-level college football. But at times, the transition seemed impossible. 

Words like doubt, uncertainty, and fear aren’t words that a Maryland football fan would think of when they think about Jackson, but those feelings were real and prevalent in his mind. 

During his freshman year, those emotions became too intense to ignore. 

One night, Jackson made his way into Maryland stadium in the middle of the night and stood on the field contemplating his life and his future. Staring at all the names of past greats adorned on the walls, Jackson never thought he could achieve similar status.  

With tears running down his face, Jackson questioned if he even belonged as a Maryland football player at all.

With the belief in himself, coupled with the support he received from Maryland athletics coaches and staff, Jackson blossomed into one of the greatest athletes in Maryland history and will be inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2021. 

“What an honor,” Jackson said. “To be considered not just one of the greatest football players in Maryland history but one of the greatest athletes is an honor I don’t take for granted. This is a school that’s had champions in every sport and I’m proud to go in alongside of them.”

Known for his passion and ferocity while patrolling the Terrapin defense, Jackson’s imprint on Maryland football was felt for years as he was a two-time All-American, a two-time All-ACC honoree, and was the 2005 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 

Jackson’s path to the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame was far from expected. He wasn’t a prized recruit coming out of high school. Social media wasn’t around when he was a teenager, so it was harder for schools to notice less heralded players to recruit. 

A few smaller schools in Florida expressed interest in Jackson, but he waited for the process to play out. He knew he could play at the highest possible level. 

Finally, a coach from a big-time program from a power conference noticed the ferocious linebacker and took a chance on him. Jackson had the offer he had been waiting for. 

“The man who recruited me was actually [current head football coach] Mike Locksley,” Jackson said. “He came down, talked to me and my family and he sold me on him more than anything. I loved what Maryland had to offer, but I committed because of Locksley. I believed in him more than anything.”

The familial environment of Maryland allowed Jackson to overcome all the hardships he faced. When his grandparents passed away, teammates, coaches, and counselors supported Jackson, helping him get through it. 

One person, in particular, Jackson credits with shaping who he is today is former University of Maryland athletics academic counselor Natasha Criss. 

Criss was there for Jackson in his hour of need, and he doesn’t think he’d be in the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame if not for her. 

“When I lost my grandparents I thought I was lost,” Jackson said. “She was the person that made sure that I stayed positive and made sure that I had someone there to talk to. She really cared, she really gave a damn about my well-being.”

People like Criss, Locksley, and the rest of the Maryland staff believed in Jackson, allowing him to settle into his career, which quickly blossomed into something special. Jackson played in every game as a freshman. By his sophomore year, he was entrenched as a starter and one of the unquestionable leaders on the team.

By his junior year, it was clear that not only was Jackson a leader, but he was a bonafide star. Jackson earned All-ACC First Team honors after a staggering 123 tackles, which topped the conference. 

His senior year was even more impressive. Opposing teams knew how much of a problem he was, but still couldn’t stop him nor scheme around him. Jackson finished his senior year with 137 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions before being named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 

For Jackson, he never actively sought out the spotlight. He just wanted to play the game he loved alongside a group of people that believed in him. 

“Everyone who knows me knows I’m a humble guy,” Jackson said. “I’m a different guy off the field than I am on it. It was a lot easier for me to go out there every week when I had great teammates and great coaches who had my back.”

Jackson parlayed his storied collegiate career into becoming a second-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns. He enjoyed a very successful 11-year NFL career and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. 

Along with being named to the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame, Jackson is joining the 2021 Cleveland Browns Class of Legends, where he will be honored later this year. 

Upon retiring, Jackson now has time to enjoy his other passions like broadcasting, business, philanthropy, and traveling. He gets to share all of it with his wife, Christina, and his young son, King. 

Being immortalized in the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame means a lot to Jackson, but it means, even more, to share it with his family. 

“I can show my son that I wasn’t lying about the fact that I used to be a pretty good football player,” Jackson said with a laugh. “I always loved playing for the same school as some of those Hall of Famers but to now being considered their peer is surreal.”

Jackson wasn’t aware that being a Maryland Athletics Hall of Famer meant his name and picture were going on the XFINITY Center wall for everyone to see. The idea of people walking around, looking at his picture, admiring his career is something Jackson will hold dear. 

“When I see my name up there, it’s going to be overwhelming,” Jackson said. “All the hard work, all the training, long days. It all leads up to an accomplishment like this. I’m a Maryland Athletics Hall of Famer and I couldn’t be prouder to say that.”

Having a legacy is something Jackson never thought about during his playing career. He never focused on statistics, accolades, or the attention he received from the fans and national media. 

The only legacy he truly cares about is who he is as a person and more importantly, as a father. 

When people hear the name D’Qwell Jackson, they’ll probably think of the bone-crunching hits, the defensive stops, and all the memories his playing career gave. 

If you ask Jackson, he wants people to think of him as someone who gave it their all and loves representing the University of Maryland. 

“When you think of D’Qwell Jackson I hope you think of someone who just loved playing the game,” Jackson said. “I loved playing the game and more importantly, I loved playing the game as a Maryland Terrapin.”