2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jackson Wheeler, LS, Georgia Southern University

• Name: Jackson Wheeler
• Position: LS
• College: Georgia Southern University
• Height: 6′ 3″
• Weight: 230 lbs
• X: @jcwheeler14
• Instagram: @jackson__wheeler

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

It’s pretty easy growing up, you know my dad is a big inspiration for me. He was an All-American quarterback at high school and played at Spruce Creek down in Daytona. Played at Florida State. Played tight end there for a few years. Had a cup of coffee as they say in the NFL with the Chargers after that he played for the Orlando Renegades and then he coached for 30 years or so. So kind of just grew up in that you know and just was kind of a natural thing for me.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

From my football life, I would have to say for sure winning a state championship my junior year at Bainbridge High School that was awesome getting to play in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium as a high school athlete you know I’m getting the win was amazing. It was a very big win for a program and then you know, obviously going to college. I’ll never forget my first time getting to play, I was against the Ragin’ Cajuns down in Louisiana and you know, after that get my first collegiate starts and then this this past season getting a good end my college career on a ball game victory against Appalachian State which is our biggest rival was pretty special.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

I’d say I’m looking to achieve something I’ve I’ve dreamed of my whole life, you know like I was saying my dad still is a huge inspiration to me making it as far as he did, you know, obviously though it’s very difficult to make it make it to the professional level in any athletic sport, but it’s something I’ve dreamed of I can. I can think back to probably first grade, I remember a paper that they would give us and the question would be what is your dream job?  And even back then, I wrote NFL on every time we would get handed those out so I’m hoping to achieve the dream that I’ve had for you know 24 years of my life now pretty much and just want to prove to myself and prove to my family that I can do it and make them proud.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

I was going to say Ray Lewis off the bat, but he actually visited us at Georgia Southern when his son was on the team so I got to introduce myself and talk with him for a bit but other than him I have to go with probably JJ Watt honestly just because of his story you know being a walk on in college and I was a walk on as well in my first couple years of Georgia Southern and just getting that insight from him you know because he’s so well known for his work ethic and his resilience and I mean obviously he had an incredible career and I feel like I have that same mindset you know coming from being a walk on myself and just trying to make it make it all the way.

What should we know about Jackson Wheeler the person?

I’m a pretty simple guy you know I mean I love my family. I’m a firm believer in that Jesus Christ is my Lord Savior. I’m a big outdoors guy. I love hunting and fishing and grew up doing it. I actually just got done fishing right before we got on this call. But I’m a hard worker. You know anything I do; I try to be good if not great at. Yeah, I love helping people out. I love talking to people. And I really am thankful for sports in the in the sense past the personal achievements but more so of just getting to be around all the guys all the time you know it’s bigger than football and so I’ve grown to appreciate the relationships with coaches and players and everybody you know just as much as being an athlete in itself.

What stands out about your film the most?

I would say for me, I feel like I have a slight advantage of athleticism just because of you know coming to college I signed the Georgia Southern as a tight end. In high school I played quarterback for I think it was right at 2 1/ 2 to 3 years, played tight and played a little bit defensive line and a long snapped on the side in high school. Just kind of a you know I get on the bus position as my dad called it learn how to do it. You know just to have it in your toolbox. So, I feel like the experience from other positions is definitely giving me an advantage in that sense and I feel like my coverage, my coverage is pretty good you know I feel like I can run well and I’m a physical guy, a pretty strong guy and the weight room and I just enjoy the physical side of the game. That’s probably the only part I miss about not playing tight end anymore. Being able to hit people all the time.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

Anytime I ever have, I guess you would say a negative situation or negative performance or any kind of bad situation in life itself I always resort back to just taking a deep breath and saying a quick prayer and realizing you know there’s more to life then performance. I’ve always resorted back to just saying a quick prayer and taking a deep breath and shaking it off and knowing the most important rep is the next one so when I think about things that way, I’ve always been able to bounce right back and get right back on the horse.

What would a team get in a player like you?

So, with a guy like me, I’d say you’re getting a guy who has a lot of respect for each position because I’ve played so many you know growing up over the years I understand the challenges in the difficulties of many positions. I value my work ethic like I said earlier anything I do I try to be great at and like I said I love talking to people I love being around the guys. I’m very invested in being a part of a program, a part of the team and I just I love the I love the journey. It’s not all about the games you know obviously when it comes down to gameday that’s huge, but you got to go through the process as well. Coach Helton said at Georgia Southern “you either like it, love it or you live it” and I feel like I definitely live the sport. I’m pretty invested in this and, I’m excited to see what happens next.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I’d say you know like just the relationship that you build with people it gets overlooked so easily with how connected you get to a group of guys and coaches you know that they really have your back and will do anything for you and same thing goes for me and I’d do anything for the guys that I played with in the coaches that I played with. And you know another thing to me is just getting to be out there on the field and look up in the stands and see my parents you know excited and happy. I mean that means the world to me you know getting to see my family that raised me so well, you know get to see me have success and enjoy a piece of that themselves.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

If I could pick someone In my time here and I wouldn’t even know if I’d call him underrated I just have so much respect for him as Josh Dallas he’s coming back to play another year but that dude man he’s a receiver at Georgia Southern and like I said I value my work ethic but that dude right there he’s one of the only people out there that I’ll give him credit where credit is due. That guy works so hard and I mean he’s always out there doing stuff. He eats perfect, he does everything right, he’s extremely invested in this and his religion and I mean he’s married now; he’s got a kid on the way. The dude’s a prime example of what you want to be and what teams would want to have as a as a future NFL player I mean he’s a guy that’s amazing. He’s probably one of the best spokesmen that I’ve ever seen in terms of guys you know around my age speaking in front of people and I mean the guy is amazing and he’s also an incredible football player.