Minnesota Vikings rookie defensive back Khyree Jackson, as well as a pair of his former high school teammates, passed away Friday night following a car accident.
Minnesota selected Jackson, a 6-foot-4 cornerback, with the 108th pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon.
The Maryland native had a remarkable journey to the NFL, quitting football for a brief period of time and working at a local grocery store.
“For a bit of a second, football had got a little foggy, I would definitely say,” Jackson said recently in an article for the AP.
Khyree Jackson Took Roundabout Path To The NFL
Jackson failed to qualify academically after high school and initially attended Arizona Western Community College. But he came back to Maryland after a couple of weeks and was so embarrassed by his dropout he laid low at home “for about six months.”
He began working at a Harris Teeter supermarket, even winning an employee of the month award. Jackson also got so good at video games he seriously considered trying to make the NBA 2K eSports league. But he got a call from Fort Scott Community College about getting back into football and played there in 2019 after two full seasons off.
Jackson took three more stops, including one at Alabama before finishing his college career at Oregon.
But things were looking up. Jackson interviewed with the Viking before the draft and blew them out of the qater.
“I just told them I was the best corner in the draft and I thought they were probably going to be getting me for cheaper because of some of the politics that go into it,” Jackson said. “Just being honest, I felt confident in my ability, and the numbers spoke for themselves. I was in a very pass-heavy conference this year. I think I showed versus a lot of top-tier receivers and quarterbacks what I could do.”
Sadly, he never got the opportunity to do so. Social media flooded with tributes to Jackson on Saturday morning.
Awful news: Vikings rookie CB Khyree Jackson, at just 24 years old, has unfortunately passed away last night.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were close to Khyree. pic.twitter.com/lcblsMe5A3
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) July 6, 2024
“Khyree Jackson had potential for one of the best comeback stories in sports after he worked his way back to football from a grocery store deli. I’m beyond heartbroken for him, his family, and teammates. Be safe and love on your people,” one fan tweeted.
“Khyree Jackson, who had pretty much given up football, working at a grocery store. Fighting his way back from the absolute bottom of the college ranks to play Power 5 football and be drafted into the NFL … only to now be gone. Rest in Power young man, just too soon,” said another.
Jackson was 24 years old.
The post NFL World Mourns The Passing Of Minnesota Vikings Rookie Khyree Jackson appeared first on BroBible.
NFL World Mourns The Passing Of Minnesota Vikings Rookie Khyree Jackson
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