It has been a busy couple of weeks for former West Orange defensive back Devin Jackson. He started fall football camp with a new team last week, transferring to The First Academy of Orlando. Then on Wednesday, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound versatile safety/cornerback/nickelback made a verbal commitment to the Florida Gators’ 2026 recruiting class.
Jackson, who is ranked No. 10 in the Sentinel’s 2026 Central Florida Super60, is one of more than 30 players to transfer to TFA this summer, and the Royals are looking to make a big splash in Class 2A.
He is the third commitment to UF’s 2026 recruiting class, joining Tampa Jesuit quarterback Will Griffin and Seffner Armwood cornerback Jaelen Waters. Verbal commitments are non-binding.
He’s only a junior, but Jackson said he was comfortable committing early with the Gators, especially because the coaching staff was on him early in his career.
“Coming into my freshman year, when I still had a lot to learn, Florida still gave me an offer. It was my fourth offer,” Jackson said. “I grew and got older and Florida continued to show the same amount of love, so I felt like it was actually home.”
He said he wasn’t necessarily a Gators fan growing up, but the staff certainly has made an impression on him during the past two seasons. Jackson attended every home game in Gainesville last season.
“I was a fan of football and the teams in Florida … Miami, Florida State and the Gators,” Jackson said. “I see myself dominating and helping out the team and getting things right and winning a national title.”
He knows the current predicament with which the Gators are faced, coming off a third straight losing season for the first time since 1937. They have one of the most difficult schedules in the country this season, but Jackson said he’s confident coach Billy Napier and crew can get things going in the right direction.
Sports Illustrated’s James Parks ranked the Gators schedule as the most difficult of all Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
“I trust in coach Napier. I see what he’s building and I trust that he’s going to get everything good and right,” Jackson said. “The team was young last year.”
Jackson said if the situation does not go well this season and Napier ends up being fired at the end of the year, he will remain true to his commitment.
“I trust that the Gators are going to win this year and I trust that they’ve got something special,” Jackson said. “If it comes down to that, though, the Gators will always be the Gators, no matter what. So, even if he does leave, I’ll still stay and help build the program.”
Jackson said part of his decision was helped by the success of last year’s UF freshman cornerback Jordan Castell, a former West Orange teammate of Jackson.
“Jordan, just seeing him play, seeing him show up as a freshman … I just knew it was possible for me to come in as a young guy and make those same big moves and do the big things that he did,” Jackson said.
With the decision made, he’s now ready to get to the task at hand with his new team.
“I’m very excited and ready to get back into the fall season and to just play ball and show everybody what I got,” Jackson said.
He said he won’t have a problem fending off the onslaught of recruiters who will still be coming at him, trying to sway him away from UF.
Transferring to TFA wasn’t an easy choice. He is one of at least three players who have left West Orange this summer, including athlete Larry Miles, now at Jones, and defensive back Artavius Riley, who is at Tavares.
“I just felt like it was a better opportunity with the books and everything and I feel like they will help me prepare better for college,” Jackson said. “It was a difficult decision because I didn’t really want to leave where I came from, but then I got to thinking that I wanted to better myself, and knowing they were going to make me better. I decided to go ahead.”
He’s excited about the upcoming season and he says to look out for TFA.
“I think we can do very well. I definitely believe we are going to shock all of Orlando, and even the outsiders,” Jackson said. “We have a Tennessee game and a Georgia game, so we have a national schedule and we really think we’re going to be good and show everybody what we got.”
The Royals are in Class 2A, where at the end of the road awaits three-time defending state champion Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna.
“We’re not really too worried about Chaminade,” Jackson said. “I know what we got and I’m really not familiar with them boys. I just know that whoever steps in front of us is going to get stepped on.”
Chris Hays can be found on X @OS_ChrisHays. He can be reached via email at chays@orlandosentinel.com.
