Episcopal’s Jackson heading to Ohio State

The pipeline of lineman from Episcopal to top Division I schools is growing.

Junior Donovan Jackson announced his commitment to Ohio State in a ceremony on Wednesday inside Episcopal High School’s gym. He chose the Buckeyes over Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M and Georgia in the hat-picking ceremony that is becoming old-fashioned compared to commitment videos often seen on social media.

One of the biggest dominoes in the Houston area’s Class of 2021 falls to an Ohio State program continuously dipping its toe into the Texas recruiting pool. Jackson is committing as the Class of 2020 cycle wraps up. He expects it will make for a less stressful senior year.

Jackson committed to Ohio State quietly during the Thanksgiving break and was recruited by Ohio State offensive line coach Greg

Studrawa.

“Just how they develop their players,” Jackson said of his decision. “Everything they do besides just play football, what that program does for you and what I can walk away with with a degree from there.”

Top-notch linemen are becoming an Episcopal specialty.

Walker Little, a potential NFL draft pick, will play his senior season at Stanford next fall.

Defensive tackle and prospective draft pick Marvin Wilson will play his senior season at Florida State next year.

And Episcopal has another top prospect in junior offensive tackle Cullen Montgomery, who is also considering Ohio State along with Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

Jackson is a composite four-star, ranked seventh overall in his class in Texas and 11th nationally at his position, which is listed at offensive guard but also could be tackle. Jackson’s length and versatility are among his biggest attributes. The 6-foot-4, 308-pounder probably wouldn’t balk at center and jokingly said he’d punt if Episcopal coach Steve Leisz needed him to.

The mentality is what Leisz and the defending Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A champions are preaching. They’re not shy about projecting high school talent to the highest level of the game.

“That was the same with Walker as well because when you go to the combine, everybody’s a left tackle,” Leisz said. “So, there’s 40 people in the left tackle spot. Show you can play that guard, show you can play that other guard, that right tackle spot. Because when you get to college, what these guys don’t understand is they don’t bring the next left tackle in. They bring the next best lineman in.”