Jackson Included in the Preseason Watch List for the Outland Trophy Award

McKinnley Jackson, the skilled defensive lineman of Texas A&M, has recently been included in the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List. The Football Writers Association of America made the announcement early Tuesday morning. This prestigious award is given annually to the most exceptional interior lineman in the country.

In addition to this honor, Jackson was also selected for the Preseason All-SEC Second Team. He captained the team throughout the 2022 season, starting in seven out of eight games he played. Over the course of the season, he accrued 37 tackles, and he was the second-highest ranked player on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss, including two sacks. The Lucedale, Mississippi native showed his best performance against Ole Miss, finishing with 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1.0 sack for a 9-yard loss. This performance earned him the Aggie Defense Leadership and Defensive MVP honors at the annual team banquet.

The prestigious Outland Trophy, which recognizes the best interior lineman in college football, will be awarded on January 10, 2024 at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner in Omaha, Nebraska. Fans can tune in to The Home Depot College Football Awards, airing live on ESPN in December, to find out who the recipient will be. The winner is selected from three finalists who are part of the annual FWAA All-America Team, chosen by the FWAA All-America Committee. Eligibility for the award is limited to interior linemen on offense or defense.

The Outland Trophy has a rich history, dating back to its founding in 1946 by Dr. John Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Outland believed that linemen deserved recognition for their hard work and dedication to the sport. His financial contribution to the FWAA initiated the award, which has been given to outstanding interior linemen ever since. Celebrating its 78th year, the Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award.

As for the upcoming season, fans of the Texas A&M Aggies can catch their team in action on September 2, 2023 at Kyle Field against New Mexico, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.