If you’re still surprised at anything Dan Jackson accomplishes at this point, you really haven’t been paying attention.
In his latest “did you see that,” the once-upon-time walk-on-turned-starter for the Georgia Bulldogs was selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round (230th pick) in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday.
It continued one of the more remarkable journeys of any football player in recent memory. According to his former coach, the former North Hall standout also continues to leave his mark for area prep players.
Jackson had one foot in the door at Air Force and had also been offered by Shorter in Rome coming out of his senior year. But at the last minute he decided to follow his heart to walk-on and hopefully one day play for the Bulldogs.
“He had offers from other programs his final year at North Hall,” said Bishop, who is now the Athletics Director at Chestatee. “But he wanted to play at Georgia and was willing to take a chance. I’m not sure I would recommend what he did to everyone because you still have to have the skill set to play at that level. But he had the speed to run with those guys. He is a role-model to kids when it comes to working hard, being a student of the game, and being patient."
Even Bishop admitted he thought it was a Hail Mary move, especially considering he had a full offer from the Division I Falcons. He also said they had some candid conversations leading up to his Georgia decision.
“Dan’s always been a hard worker and he had talent for sure. But there’s a big difference between Air Force, no offense to anyone, and Georgia as far as the overall talent level in the building,” Bishop said. “I have to say, at first I wasn’t sure it would work out for him. Just to be honest with you, he told me, he said, 'you know, Coach, I'd love to get on the practice team if possible, and if I can't, then I'm just going to be a regular student.' So Dan was that close to just being a Georgia student.
Bishop also recalled another important discussion.
"I said, 'Dan, listen, you know, you're a walk on. You're not getting any money. It's going to be tough," Bishop recalled. "You got to set some goals. And here's my advice to you. You've made a commitment for year one. You stick it out, work your way up, and then look at year two, and it just needs to be a one year at a time. And that's what he did."
Jackson was just a guy wearing No. 47 in 2021, a player you had to check the Media Guide to find. Then, he came flying out of nowhere to block a punt against Arkansas in 2021 to become an instant ESPN highlight. After that, he began to gain some traction with Georgia fans and the outside world.
Then he began to inch his way up the depth chart. Eventually he started and was on the field in January 2022, helping to pave the way for a clinching interception against Alabama in the waning seconds as Georgia won its first national title since 1980.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart summed up Jackson pretty well at the time.
“He worked his way from eighth (defensive back) to sixth, and then he worked his way to fifth, then he blocks a punt,” Smart said in 2022. “All he does is give you everything he’s got every day.”
Now, he will have to start the entire process all over again as a seventh-round pick on one the league’s deepest and most talented teams. Sounds pretty familiar.
Bishop said he wouldn’t bet against “Dirty Dan” at this point.
“At that level it’s all about need and fit, not always about a person. You just don't know what every one of those 32 teams needs," Bishop said. "But I would not under-estimate Dan. He started as a special teams player at Georgia and here we are.
"He’ll probably have to start on the special teams for the Lions. I have no idea what the future holds, but I’m just sayin. I’ve seen this before.”
