Michael Jackson is an electrical engineering major with a 3.4 grade-point average at Virginia Military Institute, from which he’ll graduate in May.
Among his study projects before then will be digging into the University of Delaware’s football playbook.
“Learning the playbook, I find that enjoyable,” Jackson said by phone Wednesday. “I just love playing football and that’s part of the fun of it.”
Jackson will attend Delaware beginning this summer as a graduate transfer seeking a master’s degree in business administration while also completing his college football career.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver announced Saturday on Twitter he’d chosen Delaware over a bevy of opportunities. UD made his intentions official on Wednesday, the second national letter of intent signing day for incoming recruits.
Delaware also announced incoming transfer wide receiver Jalyn Witcher, an FCS All-American as a freshman in 2021 at Presbyterian, and the addition of graduate punter Ben Dinkel from South Dakota State, where he had a 61-yard boot in the Jackrabbits’ 33-3 win over Delaware in the spring FCS semifinals.
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“These guys came around, came on campus, and our guys got around them and our guys were fired up about them,” said recently hired Delaware coach Ryan Carty.
“ … They’re guys that for sure had success at this level already, at a pretty high level, and hopefully that translates to what we want to do as a defense, offense and special teams unit. We’re excited about it. We can’t wait to see what they can do for us.”
Delaware still has scholarship offers out to other potential transfers, including several offensive linemen, and high school recruits who have not yet settled on a destination.
“We are actively trying to add value and talent to this roster at all times, all season long,” Carty said. “ … We are not gonna stop recruiting.”
The only Class of 2022 high school recruit who’d committed to Delaware in the past month, Santino Correa, a wide receiver/defensive back out of New Jersey powerhouse Bergen Catholic, is an invited walk-on and, therefore, didn’t sign a letter of intent, he said.
Delaware had inked six high school recruits on Dec. 15 during the early signing period and added a seventh two days later. All had verbally committed to the Blue Hens when they were coached by Danny Rocco, who was fired on Nov. 29. Carty’s hiring as Delaware’s new head coach was announced on Dec. 10.
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That December group of recruits is made up of cornerback Shuyab “Shoes” Brinkley, a Philadelphian who attended Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California, as a senior; defensive lineman Dominick Brogna from Bergen Catholic and Bayville, New Jersey; tight end Thomas Chernasky of Western Wayne in Moscow, Pennsylvania; wide receiver Isaiah Cherry from John F. Kennedy and Woodbridge, New Jersey; offensive lineman Steve Dembowksi from Pascack Valley and Montvale, New Jersey; defensive back Gary Seigler from Benedictine College Prep in Richmond, Virginia; and tight end Elijah Sessoms out of Dover High.
None of those seven are graduating from high school early so they’ll arrive at Delaware in the summer.
Jackson caught 102 passes for 1,210 yards and nine touchdowns in four seasons for the Keydets, who were spring 2021 Southern Conference champions. This past fall he had 695 yards on 51 receptions with six touchdowns. His 211 receiving yards in a comeback win over Samford were fifth most in VMI single-game history.
“The season we had in the spring, we knew we had a good team,” Jackson said, “so that just motivated everybody and I just tried to do my part. We had a couple injuries that led to me getting some more targets but I was just trying to perform every Saturday.
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“I believe in my ability every time I touch the field, so … I was a starter the two previous years as well and I just try to help the team any way I can.”
Among the other schools that pursued Jackson after he decided to play as a graduate transfer were FBS Georgia Southern, 2021 FCS champ Sam Houston, Delaware’s 2021 FCS quarterfinal victim Jacksonville State and CAA rivals William & Mary and Rhode Island.
Delaware’s new coaches, potential offensive firepower, facilities and proximity to Jackson’s Henrico, Virginia, home, near Richmond, played a role in his decision.
“After meeting the coaching staff and some of the players, it just felt like somewhere I could fit in well,” he said. “I know they have great academics and a history of having a good football program.”
The 5-10, 240-pound Dinkel, from Kearney, Nebraska, averaged 42.0 yards on 86 career punts at South Dakota State, including 44.6 in the fall of 2021. He averaged 45.8 yards on four punts in the NCAA title game loss to Sam Houston, where Carty was offensive coordinator. He’ll also finish his school year at South Dakota State before coming to Delaware this summer.
Delaware’s fall 2021 first-team All-CAA punter Tyler Pastula entered the transfer portal in early December after averaging a league-best 42.5 yards per punt but has not yet landed elsewhere. He was also Delaware’s punter as a true freshman in the 2021 spring season.
“Everybody on this roster is going to be competing for a job,” Carty said.
Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com.
