Quaker Valley grad primed to be No. 1 defensive back with Maddox graduated and Whitehead entering NFL Draft
PITTSBURGH — This early into spring camp, Randy Bates would rather hold off judgement on his players. After all, Bates, Pitt’s new defensive coordinator, has only had two days of camp to view his group, both days spent with the players participating without pads.
Still, in that short period of time, Bates has been able to ascertain high-level potential in Dane Jackson, a redshirt junior who is entrenched as one of Pitt’s starters this coming season.
“I’m not going to say anybody has stuck out, because we’re not allowed to hit anybody, but he’s certainly got the skill level to be an all-ACC player,” Bates said.
That’s high praise for Jackson, but it doesn’t come without cause. Jackson, a Quaker Valley grad, has made great strides in his time at Pitt. After starting three games as a redshirt freshman, Jackson took firm hold of a starting corner job last season, starting all 12 games and compiling 40 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions.
Always blessed with raw physical potential, Jackson started to turn those tools into production, regularly making plays on balls and deterring quarterbacks from throwing his way. With Avonte Maddox gone to graduation, Jackson now appears to be the No. 1 corner on Pitt’s roster, yet he isn’t handling this year's spring ball different than past ones.
“I just try to approach it all the same. I feel different personally, but I just try to approach it all the same. I’m getting older, but it’s just another spring ball, and we’re trying to get better every day,” Jackson said.
For Jackson to make good on that goal of getting better, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi doesn’t see any one thing that he needs to improve on. Last spring the focus largely was on contesting more passes and making more plays, but the focus this time around for Jackson is just to continue to sharpen the edges and round into form.
“I think it just comes down to the fundamentals and the details of what you do every play,” Narduzzi said. “There’s some things that you say, ‘He’s in position - is he in better position? Is he making it easier on himself, fundamentally, to be in that position, to be in phase?’ It’s a work in progress. But he’s made great - they’ve all made great strides, I think, from the off-season. “
Jackson echoed those thoughts. From bettering his technique, to his performance in the film room or weight room, Jackson sees room to improve. Particularly, he sees a need to finish plays better after analyzing last season’s film.
“Coach Narduzzi stresses that, all the other coaches stress that, so that’s just my main thing, trying to finish, finish each rep. Whether I didn’t do good in the beginning, just finish,” Jackson said.
Beyond obvious football measures, Jackson is focusing this spring on becoming more of a leader in his position group. With Maddox gone, there’s a void in that regard, a void Jackson is stepping into. Narduzzi said Jackson is “leading on the field” and “playing with an attitude.”
“I think so far going during spring ball, it’s been our energy (that’s a focus). We’ve got to get more guys just bringing that energy to the table. Whether it’s a good play or a bad play, just bring each other up, having that energy amongst the group,” Jackson said.
“(Maddox) told me before he left that he was going to pass the torch to me, so I’m trying my best to mix it up and get guys who usually don’t have as much energy in there with each other and just get us all together.”
Though Maddox is no longer on the team, he still stays close. He lives five minutes away from Jackson and is using Pitt’s facilities to prepare for the NFL Draft. Jordan Whitehead, who declared for the draft after the season, his junior year, is Jackson’s roommate. Both Whitehead and Maddox figure to be drafted, and Jackson said he’s kept a close eye on the nuances of their technique and preparation
In that way, Jackson is trying to emulate Maddox and Whitehead. At the same time, Jackson is forging his own path, steadily working to become the best corner he can be, and to make Bates’ proclamation a reality.
“Dane, obviously, is one of our top corners with Mr. Maddox being out. And he’s done a great job,” Narduzzi said. “He’s improved. Just count up the number of fades that were completed out there. He’s a competitor and he’ll just keep getting better. I think he’s developing the way we want him.”