Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was one in every of three individuals killed following a horrific automobile crash in his dwelling state of Maryland.
Within the early Saturday morning hours in Prince George’s County, the 24-year-old Jackson and his former highschool teammates Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr. had been using in a Dodge Charger after they had been hit by an Infiniti Q50 pushed by Cori Clingman. Hazel and Jackson had been pronounced lifeless on the scene, whereas Lytton succumbed to his accidents on the College of Maryland Capital Area Medical Middle.
Based on a press release by Maryland State Police, “Investigators imagine Clingman tried to vary lanes whereas driving at a excessive price of velocity when she struck the Dodge Charger” and one other car. Nobody in Clingman’s car suffered accidents, neither did the only occupant of the opposite car that was additionally hit. Police suspect that alcohol was an element within the crash, however as of this writing expenses are pending in opposition to Clingman.
Jackson was chosen early within the fourth spherical by the Minnesota Vikings and was nicely on target to be one in every of their thrilling new corners beneath second-year defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Whereas Jackson performed two years at Alabama, he made a serious identify for himself as an All-Pac 12 standout on the College of Oregon.
There have been many tributes and condolences inside the soccer group, together with from the Seattle Seahawks.
Sending our deepest condolences to Khyree’s household, the Vikings group, and all of the victims affected by this tragedy. https://t.co/bjfvVA2uRz
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 6, 2024
Jackson’s street to the NFL concerned unimaginable perseverance. As he informed reporters on the time, Jackson was working behind the deli counter after briefly giving up soccer when he performed at Arizona Western School. He quickly discovered himself at Fort Scott Group School in Kansas, then joined Nick Saban’s Alabama powerhouse, and emerged as a star participant at Oregon.
From Vikings.com:
In 2018, Jackson was two seasons faraway from final taking part in soccer and had simply earned Worker of the Month honors from his native Harris Teeter grocery retailer.
“I used to be working within the deli,” Jackson informed Twin Cities media members by way of videoconference Saturday. “So I used to be slicing ham and stuff.”
[…]
After mentally letting go of soccer, specializing in his grocery retailer job and pursuing the NBA 2K League (he made it to the highest 250 and was making ready for a draft in New York), Jackson discovered himself with a second alternative to play at Fort Scott Group School in 2019.
And identical to that, he was again on the sphere – however as a receiver.
“I went again and first performed receiver. I felt like I had form of earned my coach’s belief, after which I went to his workplace and informed him, ‘You already know, I wished to play nook,’ “ Jackson stated. “I let him know, ‘You already know, I’m in junior school, I obtained to provide to form of get out of right here. … Not less than I can form of management my very own future.”
At 6-foot-3-and-3/4-inches and 194 kilos, Jackson isn’t a typical-sized cornerback.
He’s used his size (and 78-inch wingspan) to his benefit, although, and managed his dimension successfully, serving to him go from JUCO ball, then to Alabama as a backup beneath Nick Saban after which to Oregon final season as a full-time starter.
This month ought to’ve been the primary NFL coaching camp for Khyree Jackson. As a substitute his life, in addition to the lives of his associates and ex-high college teammates Hazel and Lytton Jr, have all been senselessly reduce brief.
We additionally lengthen our condolences to the households and associates of all the victims of this tragedy.
