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Ohio State Overview
• Donovan was one of college football's outstanding offensive linemen in 2023 and 2024 and played a huge role in the Buckeyes winning the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship
• A three-time first-team all-Big Ten Conference performer, he played in 55 games between 2021-24 and started 40 games, including 14 in 2024 after missing the first two games while recovering from an injury
• Started 26 consecutive games in 2022 and 2023 at left guard and then made his first five starts in 2024 at the position
• Selflessly, he moved from guard to left tackle prior to Ohio State's Week 7 game against Nebraska after Josh Simmons was lost for the season with an injury against Oregon
• He stayed at left tackle for the remaining 10 games of the season and led the unit through a second major injury to a starter - Rimington Trophy winner and All-American Seth McLaughlin - and into the College Football Playoffs
• Played so well after the move that he was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News, USA Today and Sports Illustrated
• His leadership along the line sparked a unit that was outstanding, allowing just four sacks total in the College Football Playoffs against a juggernaut of national powers in No. 7 Tennessee, No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 Texas and No. 5 Notre Dame
• For the season, Ohio State's offense ranked 7th nationally in fewest TFLs allowed per game (3.75) and 10th in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.0) • Donovan graduated in December, 2024, with his degree in sport industry
• He and Seth McLaughlin became the third and fourth players in Ohio State history to earn first-team All-America honors as a player and first-team Academic All-America honors for their classroom expertise, joining Bob White in 1958 and Randy Gradishar in 1973
• Started all 13 games, earned first-team all-Big Ten honors by the coaches and the media and helped the Buckeyes to an 11-2 record in 2023
• Started all 13 games, earned first-team all-Big Ten honors by the media and helped the Buckeyes to an 11-2 record in 2022
• Earned his first varsity letter in 2021, playing in all 13 games as a true freshman
• He is a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, a three-time Academic all-Big Ten Conference honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Interned with the Ohio State Dept. of Athletics' fan experience and promotions area in the summer of 2023 as part of the Bucks Go Pro program
Honors & Awards
2024: First-team All-American (The Sporting News, USA Today, Sports Illustrated), First-team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, Graduated in December with his degree in sport industry, First-team All-Big Ten (coaches and media votes), Rose Bowl game Scholar-Athlete, Academic all-Big Ten
2023: First-team All-Big Ten (coach and media votes), College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, OSU Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten, Dan S. Petty / Cotton Bowl Scholar-Athlete Award
2022: First-team All-Big Ten (media voters), Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar, OSU Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten
2021: OSU Scholar-Athlete
More on Donovan
• Donovan enrolled in classes and joined the program in June, 2021
• The highest-rated offensive linemen in Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class
• A five-star prospect according to 247Sports and the nation’s No. 1-rank guard
• The No. 1 player in the state of Texas and the No. 17 overall player regardless of position
• Ranked No. 31 in Sports Illustrated’s list of the 100 best players in this year’s class
• Selected for the Army All-American Bowl
• Named the 2020 All-USA high school preseason team by USA Today
• An SI.com All-American
• Started as a freshman at left tackle for Houston Christian High School before transferring to Episcopal
• Took home offensive line MVP honors at The Opening in July of 2019
• Helped Episcopal win the Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A title as a junior
• Is the son of Melanie and Todd Jackson
• Sister, Rachel, is working on her master’s degree in environmental sciences at Duke University
Shop the First Round Pick for the Minnesota Vikings!
2024 Football Roster
Jackson, Donovan
Jersey Number 74
Donovan Jackson
- Position:
- Offensive Line
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 320
- Hometown:
- Cypress, Texas
- Last School:
- Episcopal
- Year:
- Senior
Bio
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