Eric Morris Seeking Consistency from Experienced Safety Evan Jackson in 2026

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STILLWATER — Eric Morris hasn’t pulled punches when discussing Evan Jackson this preseason.

Jackson is part of the contingent who followed Morris up from North Texas. A 5-foot-11, 188-pound safety, Jackson is one of the more experienced pieces of Skyler Cassity’s defense having played in 39 games across the past three seasons at UNT. But Morris is seeking more consistency from Jackson in the transition to Stillwater.

“Evan’s always, and Evan knows this, Evan’s high moments are super high,” Morris said Tuesday. “I’ve been with him for three years. He’s played a ton of football with us. Super athletic, rangy, can play some man coverage. He can do all the things we’re asking him to do.

“The consistency factor of it, I think, he’s a kid that his highs have been really high, and his lows have been really low. He’s someone I thought scrimmaged really good this past scrimmage, and for him, he knows the defense. He communicates at a high level. He’s able to get us in and out of things. Our safeties are big communicators for us. Like where he’s at right now. He’s gotta put it all together on a everyday basis.”

Some of the inconsistencies Morris alluded to can be seen through Jackson’s PFF grades.

Jackson graded out with a 74.7 in UNT’s win against Lamar to start last season, making three tackles and allowing a lone five-yard reception. Or in UNT’s lone regular season loss to USF, Jackson’s 69.3 ranked second-highest among UNT defensive backs, finishing with four tackles while USF didn’t bother targeting him in coverage at all.

He might’ve saved his best performance for last in 2025. In North Texas’ New Mexico Bowl win against San Diego State, Jackson graded out as a 72.8 while playing 59 defensive snaps (his second-most in a game last season). He had a bone-crunching sack on a nicely disguised blitz and also picked off a pass.

“I’d have to say the sack,” said Jackson when asked if the sack or the INT felt cooler. “Getting in that backfield and being able to celebrate, it feels great.”

But then there were outings like the Charlotte game, where Jackson graded out at a 48.1 after allowing a 64-yard touchdown reception. Or the Western Michigan game where he allowed two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown while grading out at a 52.9.

Although it might be a little unusual in the modern world for a coach to publicly say he’s seeking more consistency out of a player, it sounds as if Jackson appreciates that tough love from his head coach.

“Obviously, I’ve been with him for three years, and he’s always been the coach to get on me and help me strive for greatness and keep up the good work day in and day out,” Jackson said.

Although this consistency talk might seem like a knock, there’s little doubt that Jackson is a good player. He played in every game North Texas had during his three years in Denton.

Cassity said earlier this month that Jackson was one of five guys in the mix to start at safety for the Cowboys this season, and it seems likely that whether he starts or not, he’ll play a role on this defense.

“Coach Cassity is great,” Jackson said Tuesday. “I think he puts the best players in the best positions to succeed and make plays. Just being able to do that, I think he’ll have a lot of success.

“I’ve learned a lot, obviously since he’s the safeties coach, but being in the room with Coach Cassity and being able to break down the whole defense from front end to back end, that’s been really great.”

Jackson is an alum of Texas power North Shore High in Houston, committing to UNT as part of the 2023 recruiting class.

He made an immediate impact in Denton, playing in all dozen of UNT’s games as a true freshman while making a pair of starts.

Jackson begins his OSU tenure with 130 career tackles to go with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, six interceptions, 101 INT return yards and seven pass breakups. Per PFF, he’s allowed 52 catches on 83 targets for his career.

He’s proven to be a more-than-capable defensive back, and now his coach just wants to see him jump from good to great.

“Evan Jackson’s a guy that’s been in our system for a long time, he’s played a lot of football, a guy that needs to take the next step this year,” Morris said earlier this month. “Evan’s kind of one of those guys we’ve had meetings about. There’s been times he’s flashed, he’s shown he’s got the ability to be great, but he hasn’t put it together consistently for a whole season. He needs to take that next step.”