On Monday afternoon, Baylor expanded their 2025 recruiting class with the addition of a third defensive line prospect, Jackson Blackwell from Lorena, Texas. The three-star recruit announced his decision to join the Bears, opting for Baylor over Arizona, Houston, Kansas State, and Texas Tech, all of which he visited officially in the past two months.
Initially drawing limited interest from Power 4 schools, the 6-foot-2.5, 305-pound lineman’s recruitment gained momentum following his MVP performance at the Dallas Under Armour Next camp in March. Prior to this, Blackwell had received offers solely from UTSA and Arkansas State. Baylor and numerous other schools subsequently entered the fray.
As interest in Blackwell intensified during the spring, Baylor capitalized on its proximity—less than 20 miles from Lorena High—to strengthen their bid against other late-stage contenders. During his official visit to Waco starting June 14th, former teammate and freshman wide receiver Jadon Porter played a significant role in Baylor’s pursuit of the lineman.
In his junior season, Blackwell demonstrated his prowess on the field with 56 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Beyond football, he has excelled in track and powerlifting, achieving personal records at the Texas High School Powerlifting Championships in March with a 720-pound squat, a 500-pound bench press, and a 575-pound deadlift.
According to 247Sports rankings, Jackson Blackwell is ranked 95th among prospects from Texas and 68th nationally among defensive linemen.
