Joe Jackson

BIOGRAPHY

Joe Jackson was born on December 20, 1996, in Homestead, Florida. He is a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. 

He attended Gulliver Prep he played defensive end and tight end; he finished his career with 178 total tackles, 19 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. He was named the 2015 Class 5A-1A Male Athlete of the Year by Miami Herald and was ranked No. 4 football player in Dade County by Herald; he also competed in basketball and track.

He played college football for the hurricanes at the University of Miami; in 2016 he saw action in all 13 games with two starts. He led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (8.5), recorded 32 tackles (17 solo); he recorded two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles and scored one defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery.

In 2017 he saw action in all 13 games and made 12 starts; he led all defensive linemen with 59 tackles (35 solo), added 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks and had two pass breakups and one forced fumble. In 2018 he delivered another dominant season, starting 12 of 13 games and finishing with team-high 9.0 sacks; he earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition. He posted 14.5 tackles for loss - third-most on the team - and 47 total tackles, added one interception, three PBUs and team-high nine quarterback hurries; he scored the second touchdown of career on a 42-yard interception return for a score.

On January 3, 2019, he announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys selected Jackson in the fifth round (165th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.