Unbelievable, Landon Jackson suddenly charged $50 million for unknown contract…

Ark. — Perhaps the biggest win of the upcoming transfer portal for Arkansas football will be keeping one of its own.

Junior defensive end Landon Jackson announced on his social media pages Wednesday evening that he would be returning for his senior year with the Razorbacks. The announcement came just a day after Rocket Sanders announced his impending departure.

Jackson was a team captain in 2023 and entered the fall with high expectations. He put on more than 40 pounds of weight in the offseason and turned in a campaign worthy of an All-SEC selection.

Jackson led the Razorbacks with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He had his best game of the season against Alabama in mid-October, recording 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles. The LSU transfer started all 12 games for Arkansas in 2023.

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Earlier in the week, defensive tackle Cam Ball also announced he would return to Arkansas for the 2024 season. Despite the impending transfers of Chris Paul Jr. and Taurean Carter, the Hogs have done a good job keeping their defensive talent with Jackson, Ball and cornerback Jaylon Braxton.

Defensive coordinator Travis Williams told defensive end Landon Jackson to do one thing before playing Alabama.

“Make them remember your name,” Jackson said. “That’s what just kept running through my head was, ‘I’ve got to make them remember my name.'”

The Crimson Tide offensive line will remember his name for a while. Quarterback Jalen Milroe might have some nightmares of a 6-foot-7, 281-pound human falling on top of him for 3.5 sacks. Jackson finished the game with more than just sacks. He had 11 tackles (7 solo) and 3,5 tackles for loss to round out his stat line.

“He always hasn’t been able to plant and get under and turn the edge,” Pittman said. “Right now, he’s turning the edge really, really well. He’s not a lot different. He’s a little better with his clubs, his rips, his swims, but the key is when he turns, he’s turning now. He’s not wasting movement. Once he turns, he’s getting straight to the quarterback.”

Jackson is the first Razorback with 3+ sacks since Chris Smith tallied 3.0 sacks against Southern Miss in 2013. As a result, his efforts netted him SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week. He is the second Razorback lineman to win the award (Trajan Jeffcoat, Week 2 vs. Kent State).

“He did a tremendous job,” quarterback KJ Jefferson said postgame. “I was just asking him back there how many sacks he had. I mean he was just flying around, getting off blocks, running to tackles, rallying around the ball. Good overall effort by him. It just showed the grit and tenacity he plays with. It’s contagious as well. Other guys feed off his energy and him making plays.”