Mark Stoops greeted Drake Jackson on Senior Day. Now Jackson hopes to get one more win in Saturday's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. (SEC Photo)
Senior center Drake Jackson can still remember the first team meeting Kentucky had two years ago after it beat Penn State in the Citrus Bowl to complete a 10-win season. That’s when coach Mark Stoops told them he didn’t want to just have a good program, one that people would look back and talk about the great 2018 season that ended 10-3.
“He wanted to build a program and has done such a good job building a good program,” Jackson said. “Good programs go to bowl games year in, year out. We are expected to go to bowl games, expected to win non-conference games, go over .500 in the SEC.
“I love the culture we have in our building. Totally different than when I got here almost five years ago. Tremendously different.”
Now Jackson hopes to add to that culture in Saturday afternoon’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against North Carolina State. A win would give UK a third straight bowl win.
“I love playing against good players. Really every team we play in our conference has great players,” Jackson said. “I try to dictate to the defensive line what I am doing. I want him (opposing offensive lineman) to react to me.
“We try to treat everybody the same. We played 10 SEC games and you are not going to see defensive lines much better than that.”
North Carolina State is allowing over 400 yards per game, including 163 on the ground. Jackson thinks even with recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow calling the plays for the bowl game that the UK offense can be productive.
“Coach Marrow has been in this offense five years,” Jackson said. “I have a lot of confidence in everybody to put together a good plan. I am confident in it. We are just excited to go out there and play. It doesn’t matter who is calling plays.
“It was a hard season but it was fun. Every week you were going against the best. I think a lot of other guys would say the same thing. Getting a bowl win would be such a great feeling and I think everybody wants to get that one more time.”
