The Virginia Tech Hokies are injecting $229 million into their athletics department, but all the money in the world couldn't beat the Auburn Tigers for 2027 4-star Annapolis EDGE Rion Jackson's commitment on Wednesday.
Auburn marched into a traditional Hokie stronghold and took a Rivals300 recruit right from Virginia Tech, and a big reason why has to do with what the Plains offered: not only a beautiful campus, but the chance to compete in the SEC.
“I was supposed to officially visit Virginia Tech on May 29,” Jackson told Rivals. “But I had dinner with Coach Durkin and Coach Hutzler, and we were just talking when they saw me in the spring. Things changed. I was like, what do I have to lose by visiting down there? I was going to commit to Virginia Tech...But then I got down there and it was just different.
“Definitely just going in there and having one-on-ones with the coaches, one-on-ones with my position coaches, talking to the assistants and just feeling everybody out changed everything for me. Everybody has the same goal. I want to be a part of that.
“Definitely the brotherhood. Definitely the conference too. I’m an SEC guy. I wanted to play in the SEC. At the end of the day, I feel like I have a better chance of being developed and becoming the player I want to be there. I feel like that’s the right fit for me.”
"It Just Means More" is clearly more than a slogan. The chance to play football in the SEC still holds immense value to a player like Jackson. He had an offer from the Maryland Terrapins to stay home. He had offers from the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Big Ten was calling, including the Michigan Wolverines. Even the Notre Dame Fighting Irish offered.
Nothing was more appealing than AU, and the Tigers were far from the only SEC offer. The Ole Miss Rebels, Tennessee Volunteers, Florida Gators, and Georgia Bulldogs all offered. This was a major recruiting win within the conference, but especially nationally. Credit defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and bucks/edges coach Coleman Hutzler for selling the orange and blue so well.
Auburn has a history of producing elite EDGE talent
Jackson did well to maximize his landing spot for his position. Auburn has a rich history of producing edge-rushing talent, with 12 being taken since 2008. Keldric Faulk was just a first-round pick, and Keyron Crawford went in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jackson has the chance to be the next raw talent turned into a bona fide pro in Lee County, Alabama, after amassing 13 sacks, 62 total tackles, and 16 TFLs during his junior season in the MPSSAA's Class 4A division.
Jackson is the 17th commitment to the Tigers' 2027 class. Auburn is a top-five SEC team in Alex Golesh's first high school cycle in what has been an extremely strong June. Momentum is tangible for the Tigers, and clearly, Jackson feels it.
We'll see how Jackson fits into a strong lineage of edge-rushing talent from a program that's always produced scary defenders at his position. His excitement to be here alone is enough to inspire confidence.
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