LB Jackson officially announces exit from UVA, doesn’t give destination

By Jerry Ratcliffe

It’s still not clear where Nick Jackson is going to finish his football career, but we are now sure that it won’t be Virginia.

The UVA star linebacker, who entered the transfer portal in December, announced on his Twitter account Sunday that he is leaving the Cavaliers’ football program. Reports out of Iowa said that Jackson was visiting the Hawkeyes’ program this past weekend.

As of midweek, Virginia coach Tony Elliott was still holding out hope that Jackson might return to the program, noting that Jackson was still enrolled and was recently voted captain.

“I’d love to see him come back … I think he can do some things that can kind of put him up there amongst the greats in school history,” Elliott told media last Wednesday. “But at the end of the day, I understand he’s earned the opportunity to look around and see what else is out there.”

Jackson has done just that, and made his exit official on Sunday with this tweet:

“To my teammates, coaches, staff, alumni, Charlottesville community, and fans, it has been an honor to represent UVA Football. I am forever in debt. Cville will always be home for me. I can’t thank you all enough for the past 4 years of support as I move on to the next chapter,” Jackson wrote on his Twitter account.

According to reports out of Iowa, Jackson visited the Hawkeyes over the weekend and was reportedly trying to decide between Iowa, Oklahoma and LSU. Jackson visited Auburn last month.

To my teammates, coaches, staff, alumni, Charlottesville community, and fans it has been an honor to represent @UVAFootball. I am forever in debt. Cville will always be home for me. I can’t thank you all enough for the past 4 years of support as I move on to the next chapter🧡💙 pic.twitter.com/faBC0PIcCO

— Nick Jackson (@nickjhoops) February 5, 2023