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Arguably Alabama’s biggest visitor of the weekend in terms of remaining targets,
McKinnley Jackson, made his way back to Tuscaloosa on Saturday for an unofficial visit. “It was real fun. It was kind of like another official visit, but it was unofficial. Just got the feel for what’s the plan for me if I go to Bama.”
The four-star defensive lineman spent the night in T-Town before leaving on Sunday morning. The visit capped off a long weekend spent with the Tide both at home and on campus. On Friday, Pete Golding and defensive line coach Brian Baker were in Mississippi to visit with Jackson.
The visit to UA this weekend marked the third time Jackson has been to the Capstone since September. He talked about the conversation had with the UA head coach over the weekend. “Just the plan for me if I go to Alabama on and off the field,” Jackson said. “They want to put me on the field, helping me be the best I can be.”
The All-American defender has visited Bama many times in the past before that. “All my questions for Alabama have been answered every time from my freshman year until now,” he said. “I really don’t have anymore questions. It’s just going to be about where I feel best.”
With Sunday evening’s developments surrounding the potential addition of former Alabama linebacker and current Ole Miss assistant Freddie Roach to the Crimson Tide’s staff, it should be noted that Roach is the primary recruiter for Jackson from the Rebels staff and a coach he has a strong relationship with. "Coach Roach is the guy. He's the man," Jackson said in an interview last month.
With two weekends to go until National Signing Day, Jackson will be at LSU next before rounding out his official visit slate at Texas A&M at the end of the month. He says there won’t be any mid-week official visits. Both Alabama and Auburn already hosted the four-star DL on officials in the fall.
“I knew it was going to get crazy, but I didn’t want to let it get to my head,” he said of his recruitment of late. “It’s all about just management of it, equalizing everything out.” Jackson added the race for his signature is down to Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn. Nick Saban is expected in Mississippi on Thursday to visit Jackson.