Athlete Bio

LEON JACKSON

University of Delaware Football ('12)

Position: Linebacker

Height /Weight: 6-1 / 200

Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. 

High School: Edward White HS

Major: University Studies

At Delaware: Four-year letter winner at Delaware for head coach K.C. Keeler • versatile athlete who played linebacker and running back and was a special teams standout during his career • was a member of the 2010 squad that advanced to the NCAA FCS national championship game • was team's special teams captain • excelled at covering punts and kicks • played in 43 career games •  rushed for 640 yards on 164 carries (3.9 average) with eight touchdowns • caught five passes for 30 yards • defensively, registered 71 career tackles with 45 solo stops • seven-time Blue Hen Touchdown Club Player of the Week award winner. 

2012 Season:  Played in 10 games with two starts vs. William & Mary and Rhode Island as a senior • backup outside linebacker and special teams standout • recorded 38 tackles (22 solo) on the season with one sack for four yards, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble • also rushed twice for two yards vs. Towson • recorded a season-high eight tackles in early season win over Delaware State and added seven vs. Villanova and six against Rhode Island • named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Special Teams MVP in games vs. Bucknell and Towson • earned Blue Hen Touchdown Club Outstanding Senior on Special Teams Award at end of season • team went 5-6 under Keeler. 

2011 Season: Triple threat who appeared in all 11 games and started one at outside linebacker against West Chester • named team's special teams captain early in the season • carried the ball five times for 20 yards against Delaware State in a backup role • made 26 total tackles and 20 solo tackles • had season-high seven tackles against Richmond • also had four tackles against West Chester and Old Dominion • returned one interception for nine yards vs. West Chester • made one tackle for loss vs. Old Dominion • named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Special Team Player of the Week on four occasions  (Navy, West Chester, Delaware State, Richmond) • team went 7-4 under Keeler.

2010 Season: Appeared in 14 games for the Blue Hens as the team’s No. 3 running back behind All-American Andrew Pierce and David Hayes • saw action on special teams as well • ranked third on the team in rushing yards, gaining 302 yards on 58 carries while scoring two touchdowns • rushed five times for 21 yards in the season opener vs. West Chester • collected 55 yards on seven carries vs. Duquesne • had 11 rushes for a career-high 88 yards in Homecoming win vs. Towson, including a 63-yard run for a touchdown to give Delaware a 34-0 lead • rushed 13 times for 45 yards and a touchdown against Massachusetts • also caught two passes for 19 yards • registered five tackles while playing special teams, including two solos • named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Towson game • team went 12-3 and advanced to the FCS national title game under Keeler. 

2009 Season: Had an excellent pre-season and moved immediately into the Blue Hens’ running back rotation • saw immediate action as one of three true freshmen to see playing time on offense • saw action in eight games including one start vs. Towson • team’s second leading rusher with 316 yards on 99 carries (3.2 avg.) and a team-high six touchdowns despite missing three games with injuries • 39.5 yards per game led the squad • caught three passes for 11 yards out of the backfield • sat out games vs. William & Mary at mid-season and final two vs. Navy and Villanova due to injuries • first carry came against West Chester for a five-yard gain when he finished with 41 yards in collegiate debut • rushed for a season-high 61 yards vs. Maine • rushed for 52 yards and three touchdowns in first career start vs. Towson • 23 carries vs. Maine were the most by a UD runner all season • led the team in rushing on two occasions (vs. Richmond & James Madison) • became an immediate threat in the short-yardage and goal-line situations • also recorded two tackles on special teams • team went 6-5 for Keeler. 

High School: Played running back for head coach Terry Gilliam at Edward H. White High School • team Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior • ran for 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, including a 267-yard effort and two touchdowns and a 77-yard kickoff return in one game • named to the Florida Times-Union Super 24 team as one of the top players in northern Florida and south Georgia. 

Personal: Leon Henry Jackson II • born Feb. 22, 1990 • son of Leon Jackson and Dee Williams • University studies major at Delaware • one of team’s most active members in community service projects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnyPu_sCPYQ