SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 19, 2023

Landon Jackson

Arkansas Razorbacks

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Landon. We'll go straight to questions.

Q. I wanted to ask you about the addition of OU and Texas.

LANDON JACKSON: They've been dominating the Big 12 for years. I mean, it just brings rivalries to the SEC. I mean, for us personally, we got that OU-Arkansas rivalry beyond the border. I wasn't here at the time, whenever Arkansas played Texas, but talking to the players and the fans that were here, they stressed how big of a game that was.

I think that will bring a big rivalry. You get that Texas A&M-Texas rivalry again. It brings in a lot more fun to the SEC, so I like that.

Q. What is it like for you working with new defensive coordinator Travis Williams?

LANDON JACKSON: He's a great guy. I love him. Every day we're going into meetings, he has a little deejay system set up in the meeting room, he has everybody crunk before practice. The energy just flows into practice.

I honestly think his energy alone brings so much to our defense. I really like working with him.

Q. What do you remember from last year's game against Texas A&M, the craziness? How much are you looking forward to flipping the script this year?

LANDON JACKSON: I'm excited for that game. But just got to take it game by game. I mean, that game, we just got to finish, you know? We got to play a better football game.

I mean, I'm ready for it. Like I said before, just taking it week by week.

Q. Have you ever heard some of his old music?

LANDON JACKSON: No, I actually have not (smiling).

Q. KJ was in here telling us about how much it meant to take care of the Auburn game after a couple games that were close. Is that a goal for this year? What can you tell us about beating Auburn last year after losing a couple heartbreakers earlier? Also, does that game have more significance now that you have Travis Williams?

LANDON JACKSON: That was a great win. Any time you win a big game in the SEC, it's great. I mean, every week, it's really tough competition.

I mean, that was a really exciting game, for sure.

Q. Can you talk about the rivalry with Missouri throughout your career. Tough loss this last November. Talk about that rivalry.

LANDON JACKSON: It's a big game. There's a lot of rivalries in the SEC, but I feel like that's for sure one of our bigger ones. I enjoy it. Any high-intensity game, any trophy game, I really like a lot, so...

It brings energy to the game. I feel like it makes me personally play better, so I like it.

Q. I wanted to ask you about sort of facilities. College landscape is changing. How important is it for you as an athlete to have the right facilities to work in? You've gained 40 pounds this off-season.

LANDON JACKSON: It's great. I mean, nowadays with recruiting and everything, you need those facilities 'cause a lot of that is all those recruits see.

I think it helps. I mean, not having some of the extra stuff isn't really going to turn a player into some Greek god, but having them, it is beneficial.

Q. What is it like playing for Sam Pittman? Where do you feel like you guys are at? Had some momentum going, and a little bit of a roadblock last year. Where do you feel you are at program-building-wise?

LANDON JACKSON: First of all, I love playing for Sam Pittman. He's a genuine guy. What y'all see in the public, what y'all see at media days and stuff like that is how he is to us.

He's just an energetic and happy man. He's walking around all day at practice just chopping it up with different players, making conversation. He always has a smile on his face.

I think we're really stressing all the small details. Last year I want to say it was three or four games we lost by combined nine points. Those games where we're losing by two or three, we have to be able to capitalize and win those games. I feel like that will make us a much better team.

Coach Sowders, our new strength coach, came from Louisville, he stresses all the little details. For example, for like workouts, he stresses us to be there not five minutes early but earlier than five minutes. Say the workout is at 3 p.m. If there at 2:55, you're on the StairMaster, you're doing up, downs, something like that. All the little details we're really trying to perfect right now, and I think it will play into the season.

Q. You've been selected as an ambassador for Arkansas. What does that mean to you personally? How do you take this growth at SEC Media Days and take it to the leadership factor on your team?

LANDON JACKSON: No, it's great. I'm just happy that my coaches kind of, I guess, view me as that. I love leading my teammates. It's a blessing, really.

So if you ask me three years ago, I would never have expected to be in this position that I'm in today. I plan on leading my teammates all throughout the season, being a positive leader, 'cause those type of leaders are always the ones that I personally have, like, kind of wanted to follow with.

A guy like Bumper Pool last year. He's never being negative, cussing players out, this and that. He's like, C'mon, bro, let's finish this workout, this and that.

I like encouraging them like that. I'm going to be the best leader I can be towards my D-line, not just my D-line but my whole defense this season.

Q. My head is still spinning seven months later from the Liberty Bowl game, three overtimes. What was it like playing in that game?

LANDON JACKSON: Man, that game was exhausting. I want to say I had 80-something snaps that game. Before that the most snaps I had in a game was Texas A&M with, like, 48, 50. It was unreal.

I had to play D end, D tackle, linebacker. It was just all over. It was long. I mean, right after that we drove back home actually and I went to bed (smiling).

Q. You started your career at LSU. Obviously things have worked out, you're here. That journey, the last two games against them, both decided by field goals.

LANDON JACKSON: Man, I love Baton Rouge. I got recruited there by coach Ed Orgeron. It was a great year. I really loved the city. I think it was a great town and a great college in general.

But it just wasn't for me personally. I didn't feel at home really. That's my biggest thing. I'm a big family man. I just knew I needed to be closer to home. I needed to be somewhere where, if time is getting tough, I have an uncle in Rogers. If I had a bad week or something, I just want to see a familiar face, see some family. I can drive up to Rogers, sit down and have a meal with him. Stuff like that.

I needed to be closer to home, closer to family.

Q. When you talk about OU and Texas joining the conference, how important is it from a recruiting perspective to have those top-notch facilities? From your experience, did that ever go into your transfer from LSU?

LANDON JACKSON: I'd say it went into play for -- with the whole facilities deal, I would say it went more into my high school recruitment. LSU had some gorgeous facilities. Their lockers pull out into beds. I don't want to say that really sold me, but it's something I thought of.

Whenever I was in the transfer portal, I more so looked into what staff is there, what type of guys are there, how I'd fit in more with the defense, not as much the facilities at all.

I do think Texas and OU will play a major role in the SEC. I'm excited to have 'em.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you very much. Good job.

LANDON JACKSON: Thank you all. Have a great day.