Sam Jackson V leaned back in his chair, grinning at the thought of Saturday’s game. When reporters asked how he’d celebrate scoring against Cal, his former team, Jackson joked, “I might get flagged for this, so I’ll probably hold off.”
He continued with a playful suggestion, “I was chatting with a teammate about maybe grabbing the ball, signing it, and handing it to the head coach. I’m sure I’d get a penalty and Coach Nix and Coach Hugh Freeze would go wild.”
On a more serious note, Jackson acknowledged that playing against Cal carries extra significance for him. The junior receiver spent the 2023 season at Cal and was their quarterback for much of last year’s Auburn-Cal game. He recalled the intense atmosphere created by Auburn fans, saying, “It was wild. It felt like an orange-out.”
Jackson isn’t expecting the same level of support from Cal fans when they visit Auburn. Despite the game being a challenging one for both fan bases, the Auburn fans left satisfied with a victory.
In that previous encounter, Jackson was Cal’s leading passer, even though Auburn came out on top. His season was a mixed bag, with Cal finishing 6-7 and Jackson often competing for quarterback snaps with Ben Finley and Fernando Mendoza.
After the season, Jackson transferred to Auburn, switching back to wide receiver—a position he hadn’t played since high school. Reflecting on his move, he said, “It was a bittersweet change, but it was an opportunity to be part of something bigger at Auburn.”
The hardest part of leaving Cal, Jackson admitted, was saying goodbye to his teammates. Despite this, Mendoza, one of his former teammates, still supports him, saying, “I hope he does well on Saturday. Sam’s a great guy, and I’m rooting for him.”
As Jackson faces his old team, he acknowledges the personal stakes but also understands it’s just another game for Auburn. It’s a chance for the offense to showcase its progress, with Jackson eager to prove himself as a key wide receiver.
Jackson’s insider knowledge of Cal could be an advantage for Auburn, helping them strategize. “I might consult him,” said Auburn’s Coach Freeze. “Our defensive guys will likely have more interaction with him.”
For Cal, Jackson’s familiarity with their defense makes him a focal point in their game planning. “We’re very aware of Sam’s abilities,” said Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon. “We need to pay extra attention to him given his past with us.”
Jackson feels confident, knowing the Cal defense from his practice days. “They’ll play hard and be in the right spots,” he said. “But I believe our guys will outmatch them.”
