Austin Jackson (American football) facts for kids
Jackson with the Miami Dolphins in 2024
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| No. 73 – Miami Dolphins | |||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | August 11, 1999 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 310 lb (141 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | North Canyon (Phoenix, Arizona) | ||||
| College: | USC (2017–2019) | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Austin Jackson (born August 11, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as an offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the USC Trojans. The Dolphins chose him in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Austin Jackson grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He went to North Canyon High School. There, he was a star player on the school's football team. He played both defensive and offensive line.
Besides football, Austin also played basketball and was on the track and field teams. By his senior year, he was considered one of the best young football players in Arizona. He decided to play college football at the University of Southern California.
College Football Career
Austin Jackson started his college career at USC in 2017. As a freshman, he played in all 14 games. He was a reserve offensive lineman, meaning he wasn't a starter but played when needed. He also played on special teams, helping block kicks.
In his second year, Austin became the starting left tackle for USC. He started all 12 games that season.
Overcoming Challenges in Junior Year
Before his junior season, Austin had surgery to help his younger sister, Autumn. She has a rare blood condition called Diamond–Blackfan anemia. Austin donated bone marrow to her.
He returned to practice in August and worked hard to get back in shape. He was ready to start the season as the Trojans' left tackle. In September 2019, he was named the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week. This was after a great game where he helped his team win and even blocked a field goal attempt.
At the end of his junior year, Austin was named first-team All-Pac-12. After the 2019 season, he decided to enter the 2020 NFL draft instead of playing his senior year. He played in all 39 of USC's games during his college career, starting 25 of them.
Professional NFL Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4+7⁄8 in (1.95 m) |
322 lb (146 kg) |
34+1⁄8 in (0.87 m) |
10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) |
5.07 s | 1.73 s | 2.92 s | 7.95 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) |
9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) |
27 reps | 25 | |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
The Miami Dolphins drafted Austin Jackson with the 18th pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. He made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020. He started as the left tackle in the season opener against the New England Patriots.
Dealing with Injuries
Austin faced some injuries early in his NFL career. In October 2020, he was placed on injured reserve due to a foot injury. He returned to play in November of that year.
In 2022, he started the season as the Dolphins' right tackle. However, he suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve again. He was activated in November but was placed back on injured reserve in December.
Returning Strong in 2023
Austin returned as the Dolphins' right tackle in 2023. He started every game that season, protecting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Because of his strong performance, he signed a new three-year contract with the Dolphins.
In 2024, Austin started 8 games for the Dolphins. He also recovered one fumble. On November 12, 2024, it was announced that he would miss the rest of the season after having knee surgery.
Personal Life
Austin Jackson comes from a family of football players. His grandfather, Melvin Jackson, also played offensive line at USC. He even played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.
As mentioned, Austin donated bone marrow to his younger sister, Autumn, in 2019. This helped her with her rare blood condition. Austin has one son, who was born in 2023.
