Nick Jackson Back for Iowa in 2024

According to multiple reports on Sunday, Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson has decided to return to college for the 2024 season. The Athletic's Scott Dochterman was the first to post the news. 

Jackson joins good friend and All-American Jay Higgins in coming back as a starter on the second level of the defense. Also announcing they would be returning next fall are starters Luke Lachey, Nick DeJong, Sebastian Castro and Jermari Harris. The team is still waiting on word from Quinn Schulte and Kyler Fisher. 

A graduate transfer from Virginia before last season, Jackson was awarded an extra year of eligibility via a recent NCAA waiver. The Cavaliers '22 campaign ended before their final two games were played after a shooting killed three members of the team. 

Jackson (6-0, 237) earned third-team All-Big Ten laurels from league media and honorable mention by conference coaches after piling up 99 tackles (42 solo, 8.0 for loss), ranking second to Higgins on the team and seventh in the Big Ten this season. He forced two fumbles, registered four sacks and seven quarterback pressures, and had two pass break-ups. 

While at Virginia, Jackson twice was named second-team All-ACC and landed on the third-team once. He has totaled 464 tackles in his college career.