Kirby Smart updates status of Georgia OL Jahzare Jackson following recent arrest
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Georgia offensive lineman Jahzare Jackson was arrested earlier this month on charges that included felony possession of marijuana. When he met with reporters on Thursday to kick off fall camp for the Bulldogs, head coach Kirby Smart provided a status update on the second-year player.
“Obviously disappointed in the decision-making process,” Smart said. “He’s been disciplined internally, but he’s with the team.”
Jackson was booked into the Athens-Clarke County jail on July 16 and released on bond the following morning. He also faced a misdemeanor charge for possession and use of a drug-related object and a misdemeanor charge for holding his cell phone while driving.
A former semi-professional basketball player, Jackson made the move back to football and joined the Bulldogs in the 2024 class. He’s a 6-foot-10, 348-pound offensive tackle who hadn’t previously played competitive football since middle school.
But Georgia took him on as a project and Jackson got his feet wet last season. He played in all 14 games, though mostly appeared on special teams.
Smart was also asked on Thursday about the protocols Georgia has in place for “cross-checking” recruits for legal issues before they arrive on campus, but he declined to answer that question, saying, “I can’t really talk about recruiting, so I can’t comment about those.”
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
