Derrick Jackson is in his third season as cornerbacks coach. He was hired Jan. 23, 2017.
Losing two starters from the previous season to graduation, Jackson was charged finding their replacements in his second year at Purdue. Senior Antonio Blackmon and redshirt freshman Kenneth Major answered the call. Blackmon finished sixth on the team with 67 total tackles and a team-high nine PBUs, while Major was seventh for Purdue with 55 stops and a team-high three interceptions. Both garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Jackson inherited senior cornerback Da’Wan Hunte and graduate transfer Josh Okonye in his first season at Purdue. Okonye finished 2017 sixth on the team with 57 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, and a team-best 10 pass breakups. Hunte recorded 43 stops, seven pass breakups and returned an interception 42 yards. Both players were named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Jackson came to Purdue after spending the previous five seasons at Wake Forest (2012-16) in a variety of positions. He served as cornerbacks coach from 2014 to 2016, defensive backs coach in 2013 and as outside linebackers coach in 2012. He also oversaw the field goal/PAT block units from 2014 to 2016. Wake Forest blocked a total of seven kicks over three seasons.
The 2016 Demon Deacons defeated Temple 34-26 to win the Military Bowl, finishing the season tied for ninth nationally in turnovers gained (27), 18th in third-down defense (34.1 percent), tied for 22nd in red zone defense (77.8 percent) and 23rd in scoring defense (22.2).
Jackson’s 2014 cornerbacks helped the Demon Deacons rank 12th nationally in fewest passing yards per game (186.6) and surrender merely 12 touchdown passes, which tied for sixth. Kevin Johnson and Merrill Noel ended their careers ranked third and fifth in ACC history in passes defended, respectively. Johnson was selected with the 16th overall pick by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
In 2013, Wake Forest had its passing defense improve 49 spots from 100th to 51st and its scoring defense improve 53 spots from 91st to 38th, while finishing 32nd in the nation in total defense.
Wake Forest had its sack total improve from 11 (115th nationally) in 2011 to 25 (55th) in 2012 and its tackles for loss per game average go from 5.2 (82nd) to 6.3 (41st). Justin Jackson led the Demon Deacons with 80 tackles, tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks and was second with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Prior to Wake Forest, Jackson spent one season as the defensive line coach at both Rice (2011) and Akron (2010). The Owls’ defense improved in sacks, turnovers gained and red zone defense in his lone season on staff. Defensive end Scott Solomon, Rice’s career sacks leader, finished the 2011 season ranked 21st in the nation with 8.5 sacks. The Zips’ run defense and sack total improved in 2010.
From 2007 to 2009, Jackson coached the defensive line at Syracuse, including serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2008. In 2009, the Orangemen tied for sixth in the nation with 35 sacks, ranked 13th in rushing defense (101.8) and tied for 16th with 85 tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Arthur Jones, a fifth-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2010 NFL Draft, thrived under the direction of Jackson, earning first-team All-Big East recognition in 2008 and 2009. He finished his career ranked third in Syracuse history with 38.5 tackles for loss. As a sophomore, Jones recorded 17.5 tackles for loss, which ranked ninth nationally and third on the Syracuse season list. Defensive end Chandler Jones was a 2012 first-round selection by the New England Patriots.
Jackson served as defensive line coach at Michigan State in 2006. The Spartans limited the opposition to eight rushing touchdowns that season.
In 2005, Jackson helped Northern Illinois win a share of the MAC West title and a spot in the conference championship game. Defensive tackle Quince Holman was named first-team All-MAC.
Prior to Northern Illinois, Jackson spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Eastern Illinois as defensive line coach. He helped lead defensive tackle Marcus Lorick to second-team All-America recognition and first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in 2004. Defensive end Kory Lothe led the conference in sacks that season.
While coaching defensive ends at Army West Point in 2001 and 2002, Brandon Perdue earned first-team Academic All-America recognition in 2001, and Clarence Holmes broke the school-record with 7.0 sacks that season.
Jackson got his start in collegiate coaching at State University of West Georgia in 1999, coaching the tight ends for two seasons. He served NFL fellowships with the Miami Dolphins (2001) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002).
A four-year letterwinner at Duke as a defensive back, Jackson started 40 consecutive games and finished his career ranked eighth in school history in tackles. He twice was named the team’s most outstanding defensive back and was a member of the Blue Devils’ 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference co-championship and All-American Bowl team.
A native of Cincinnati, Jackson (born Jan. 16, 1970) graduated from Duke in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He and his wife Renae, have twin children, Alana Mae and Dakota John. Renae, also a Duke graduate, was a standout long jumper for the Blue Devils, leaving as the school’s all-time leader in the event.
Losing two starters from the previous season to graduation, Jackson was charged finding their replacements in his second year at Purdue. Senior Antonio Blackmon and redshirt freshman Kenneth Major answered the call. Blackmon finished sixth on the team with 67 total tackles and a team-high nine PBUs, while Major was seventh for Purdue with 55 stops and a team-high three interceptions. Both garnered honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Jackson inherited senior cornerback Da’Wan Hunte and graduate transfer Josh Okonye in his first season at Purdue. Okonye finished 2017 sixth on the team with 57 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, and a team-best 10 pass breakups. Hunte recorded 43 stops, seven pass breakups and returned an interception 42 yards. Both players were named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Jackson came to Purdue after spending the previous five seasons at Wake Forest (2012-16) in a variety of positions. He served as cornerbacks coach from 2014 to 2016, defensive backs coach in 2013 and as outside linebackers coach in 2012. He also oversaw the field goal/PAT block units from 2014 to 2016. Wake Forest blocked a total of seven kicks over three seasons.
The 2016 Demon Deacons defeated Temple 34-26 to win the Military Bowl, finishing the season tied for ninth nationally in turnovers gained (27), 18th in third-down defense (34.1 percent), tied for 22nd in red zone defense (77.8 percent) and 23rd in scoring defense (22.2).
Jackson’s 2014 cornerbacks helped the Demon Deacons rank 12th nationally in fewest passing yards per game (186.6) and surrender merely 12 touchdown passes, which tied for sixth. Kevin Johnson and Merrill Noel ended their careers ranked third and fifth in ACC history in passes defended, respectively. Johnson was selected with the 16th overall pick by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
In 2013, Wake Forest had its passing defense improve 49 spots from 100th to 51st and its scoring defense improve 53 spots from 91st to 38th, while finishing 32nd in the nation in total defense.
Wake Forest had its sack total improve from 11 (115th nationally) in 2011 to 25 (55th) in 2012 and its tackles for loss per game average go from 5.2 (82nd) to 6.3 (41st). Justin Jackson led the Demon Deacons with 80 tackles, tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks and was second with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Prior to Wake Forest, Jackson spent one season as the defensive line coach at both Rice (2011) and Akron (2010). The Owls’ defense improved in sacks, turnovers gained and red zone defense in his lone season on staff. Defensive end Scott Solomon, Rice’s career sacks leader, finished the 2011 season ranked 21st in the nation with 8.5 sacks. The Zips’ run defense and sack total improved in 2010.
From 2007 to 2009, Jackson coached the defensive line at Syracuse, including serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2008. In 2009, the Orangemen tied for sixth in the nation with 35 sacks, ranked 13th in rushing defense (101.8) and tied for 16th with 85 tackles for loss. Defensive tackle Arthur Jones, a fifth-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2010 NFL Draft, thrived under the direction of Jackson, earning first-team All-Big East recognition in 2008 and 2009. He finished his career ranked third in Syracuse history with 38.5 tackles for loss. As a sophomore, Jones recorded 17.5 tackles for loss, which ranked ninth nationally and third on the Syracuse season list. Defensive end Chandler Jones was a 2012 first-round selection by the New England Patriots.
Jackson served as defensive line coach at Michigan State in 2006. The Spartans limited the opposition to eight rushing touchdowns that season.
In 2005, Jackson helped Northern Illinois win a share of the MAC West title and a spot in the conference championship game. Defensive tackle Quince Holman was named first-team All-MAC.
Prior to Northern Illinois, Jackson spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Eastern Illinois as defensive line coach. He helped lead defensive tackle Marcus Lorick to second-team All-America recognition and first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in 2004. Defensive end Kory Lothe led the conference in sacks that season.
While coaching defensive ends at Army West Point in 2001 and 2002, Brandon Perdue earned first-team Academic All-America recognition in 2001, and Clarence Holmes broke the school-record with 7.0 sacks that season.
Jackson got his start in collegiate coaching at State University of West Georgia in 1999, coaching the tight ends for two seasons. He served NFL fellowships with the Miami Dolphins (2001) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002).
A four-year letterwinner at Duke as a defensive back, Jackson started 40 consecutive games and finished his career ranked eighth in school history in tackles. He twice was named the team’s most outstanding defensive back and was a member of the Blue Devils’ 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference co-championship and All-American Bowl team.
A native of Cincinnati, Jackson (born Jan. 16, 1970) graduated from Duke in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He and his wife Renae, have twin children, Alana Mae and Dakota John. Renae, also a Duke graduate, was a standout long jumper for the Blue Devils, leaving as the school’s all-time leader in the event.