The Taylor Effect: Kendall Jackson Speaks Highly of Jason Taylor After Miami Official Visit

One of Miami’s most notable coaching moves this offseason was the promotion of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor from defensive analyst to defensive line coach. This has allowed Taylor to take on a much larger recruiting role than before.

Taylor has been a difference-maker in the recruitment of 2024 defensive lineman Kendall Jackson, who took his official visit to Miami from June 23-25.

“Being able to pick Coach Taylor’s brain and get his philosophy of teaching, it was great,” Jackson told LifeWallet Sports about his UM visit. “The presentation overall, from academics to player development was great. Hanging out with the current players and other recruits, just getting the feel of Miami was overall great.”

Jackson, who said that his favorite part about this visit was “being around Coach Taylor,” thinks that he could learn a lot from Taylor if he ends up at Miami.

“Definitely could learn a lot from him as far as coaching-wise. He coached me and Marquise [Lightfoot] up a little bit in our position meeting as to why certain moves work a certain way,” Jackson said.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defender had visited Miami multiple times before his official visit, but this occasion was much different for Jackson than the other times, as he was able to learn more about defensive coordinator Lance Guidry’s scheme and the ways in which he would be utilized.

“Since Coach Guidry has been named the new [defensive coordinator], I hadn’t really got a chance to go over the whole defensive scheme and where they see me, so that was kind of a new thing,” Jackson said.

According to Jackson, Guidry views him as mostly a defensive end as well as a “jack” on Miami’s defense.

Jackson totaled 65 tackles, 12.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles last season for F.W. Buchholz (Fla.).

Jackson is set to announce his commitment on July 20. Miami, Florida, Arkansas and Kentucky are among the finalists.

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