One-on-One: Gators Early Enrollee Kalif Jackson
Friday, January 30, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kalif Jackson never had to look far for role models growing up.
His father, DeAndre Jackson, is a longtime robotics teacher who is working on his Ph.D. in computer technology. His mother, Brenda Priestly Jackson, is a UF Law School graduate, attorney and former chair of the Duval County School Board.
Still, older brother Malik, who is four years older, is the one who Kalif looked up to most growing up in the Jacksonville area.
“He's debating whether he wants to go to law school here and kind of be with me or go to Columbia or somewhere like that,'' Kalif said.
Like Kalif, one of the Gators' two scholarship players who enrolled early this spring, Malik Jackson was a prep standout and played college football. A quarterback at Jacksonville Ribault High, Malik played sparingly during his four seasons at Princeton prior to earning a degree in politics last year.
But Malik made the most of his opportunity at the Ivy League school. Kalif knew his older brother had more on his mind than playing time.
“He always talked about how I was more athletic than he was, but don't forget about academics,'' said Kalif, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver out of Neptune Beach Fletcher High. “No matter how athletic you are, you can't forget about academics.”
Kalif took his older brother's advice and graduated high school early. He also relied on the sound advice of his family when, after committing to Florida last summer, he remained committed following the departure of former head coach Will Muschamp and hiring of Jim McElwain.
A lot of outsiders tried to persuade Kalif's college choice. He remained patient.
“I would be lying if I didn't say I didn't [consider other options],'' Kalif said. “But I didn't do anything about it. I just kind of waited to see what was going to happen. I committed to the school, not to the coach.”
One of Kalif's best friends is Gators receiver Ahmad Fulwood, who played at Fletcher's rival Bishop Kenny High. They have known each other since Kalif was a sophomore in high school.
Once McElwain was hired Jackson did his homework on Florida's new head coach.
“He scores points,'' he said.
That's a plus for any receiver.
With plans to major in political science, Jackson is working to add some weight and develop his skills as an early enrollee.
“I feel like coming in early I will be able to develop my route-running a lot better, understand the game more,'' he said. “I know coming in this spring will help me get a better grasp of it.”
Meanwhile, he will rely on Malik and his parents when he needs help trying to balance school, football and a social life as he navigates the busy life of a Division I college football player.
Each played important roles in him getting to UF and he wants them to share in his experience.
“They all taught me the value of education,” Kalif said. “I didn't start playing organized sports until about the fourth of fifth grade because my mom said I had to get the foundation of education established but I could step out and play sports.”
The plan worked. One day when football is in the rearview mirror, Kalif already knows what is next.
“Law school,'' he said.
