Former Central Valley High School student-athlete Phoenix Jackson is playing college football at the NCAA Division-I level in Texas.

Jackson transferred from Fresno State to Baylor University for his final year of athletic eligibility.

“I’m really happy to be where I am now,” the 6-foot-tall 223-pound senior linebacker said during his first official interview with the media leading up to the 2025 season. “It’s the best decision I could have made.”

It didn’t take long for Jackson to find a new home after deciding to leave Fresno State.

“I didn’t have any offers out of high school,” he said. “When I hit the (transfer) portal, I had eight-plus offers. At that point, I was just going where I felt most comfortable. So I chose Baylor.”

Jackson has fit right in at Baylor, a program he committed to in December of 2024.

He’s willing to do whatever it takes to help his new team, which compiled an 8-5 overall record, tied for fifth place in the Big 12 (6-3) and lost 44-31 to LSU in the Texas Bowl last season. 

“The transition has been amazing,” he said. “The first couple months were a little rocky. Better competition. Different playbook.”

“I’ve definitely seen improvement just as far as me being able to slow the game down and really take it one play at a time,” Jackson added. “When I was at Fresno State, I was kind of everywhere. I was thinking too much. Coach (Dave) Aranda simplified it (my reads).”

One of the main reasons Jackson decided to transfer to Baylor was to learn from Aranda.

Aranda was Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Patrick Queen’s position coach at Louisiana State University.

“That had a huge part,” Jackson said. “My favorite linebacker right now is Pat Queen. I wanted to be just like him as soon as I seen him in high school and college. Now, I can do what he was doing and be who he is in my own way.”

Aranda heaped praise on Jackson during a recent press conference.

“He’s very talented,” Aranda said. “As spring went on, just the flashes that he would do, so disruptive. There were times where he was unblockable, and then the ability to cover people out of the backfield and cover tight ends and mismatches and all those things he was able to handle.”

Jackson joined the Fresno State football program as a preferred walk-on player in 2021.

Jackson’s dedication and effort didn’t go unnoticed as then Bulldogs’ head coach Jeff Tedford awarded him a full scholarship for the 2023-24 school year.

Jackson developed into one of Fresno State’s top linebackers.

He enjoyed his best season to date with the Bulldogs in 2024.

He had 48 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions, five quarterback hurries and four pass breakups.

He also returned an interception for a touchdown.

Jackson was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 4.

He earned a 75.1 defensive rating from Pro Football Focus, which ranked second on the team.

 In 34 career games, Jackson totaled 98 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, three interceptions and eight pass breakups.

He earned academic All-Mountain West Conference accolades in 2024, 2023 and 2022.

An honor-roll student at Mae Hensley Jr. High in Ceres, Jackson attended Central Valley High School for one year prior to transferring to Central Catholic.

Jackson starred at quarterback and defensive back while leading Central Valley’s freshman football team to a 7-2-1 overall record and share of the Western Athletic Conference title (3-1) during the 2017-18 school year. He was a standout guard on the Hawks’ junior-varsity boys basketball team.

Jackson totaled 54 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one sack in 13 career games with Central Catholic’s varsity football team.

He led the Raiders in tackling and receiving senior year.

Jackson had 35 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one pass deflection at linebacker as Central Catholic compiled a 3-2 record during its 2020-21 COVID-shortened season. He earned all-conference honors for his outstanding play on defense.

Jackson also caught 19 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. 

Jackson played youth football for the Ceres Seahawks and recreational and all-star baseball for CYB.

Jackson’s journey from walk-on to full-scholarship college football player has been nothing short of amazing.

His dream of playing in the NFL could become a reality in 2026.

He wants to repay his parents Phillip and Christina for the sacrifices they’ve made over the years.

They covered his tuition and housing his first two years as a walk-on player at Fresno State.

Older brother Phil Jr. moved with Phoenix to Texas. He’s helping Phoenix with his nutrition and offering support in other areas. Phil Jr. is currently working at law firm in Waco and earning his master’s degree online from Arizona State.

“This (transferring to Baylor) is just another stepping stone towards my ultimate goal which is going first round,” Jackson said. “My goal is to get drafted so I can finally take care of them and do what they did for me.”