Lee County’s Leroy Jackson chooses North Carolina

LEESBURG — Lee County senior defensive lineman Leroy Jackson will play college football with the North Carolina Tar Heels of the ACC next year, he announced Saturday during a commitment ceremony at Lee County High School’s lecture hall above the football field.

Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman, is the son of Letitia and Leroy Jackson Jr.

“I liked the visit I had up there,” Leroy Jackson said after the ceremony. “I believe the program there and the coaches will be able to help me get to the next level.”

Before the ceremony began, Jackson had hats and jerseys from Appalachian State, North Carolina, and Iowa State. According to 24/7 Sports, Jackson had 16 offers from colleges and universities including Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Miami, West Virginia, and Cincinnati.

“I am pleased with the decision he made,” Letitia Jackson said. “I really enjoyed our visit to North Carolina and I think he will be happy there and successful.”

Leroy Jackson is a vital part of the No. 4-ranked Lee County Trojans and is preparing to play what could be his final home game on Lee County’s Trojan Field. He got some major excitement in Friday night’s 65-14 win over Tift County when he caught a touchdown pass. That doesn’t happen often for a defensive lineman.

“It was crazy,” Jackson said. “We had been working on it in practice and I told coach I was going to catch it if we got to run that play. So I was really excited that I did and we got the touchdown.”

Jackson and the Trojans will host Dunwoody on Friday night in Leesburg for the first round of the state playoffs. Should the Trojans win, they could then travel to Effingham County near the Georgia coast for Round 2.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorBy Joe Whitfield
Sports Editor