Shedrick Jackson Bio
Shedrick Jackson (born October 20, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and entered the NFL in 2023 as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. After spending time on practice squads, he joined the Raiders in December 2024 and remains with the organization.
Early Life and Background
Jackson was born on October 20, 1999, in Hoover, Alabama. He comes from a notable athletic family and is the great-nephew of Bo Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner who starred in both the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB). Growing up in Hoover, he was surrounded by a strong football culture that shaped his early interest in the sport.
He attended Hoover High School in his hometown, where he developed into a reliable wide receiver. As a sophomore in 2015, Jackson caught 20 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns while helping Hoover reach the Class 7A state semifinals. The following year, he recorded 43 receptions for 661 yards and three touchdowns as Hoover won the Class 7A state championship.
Prior to his senior year in 2017, Jackson committed to play college football for the Auburn Tigers, the same school his great-uncle Bo Jackson attended. On3.com ranked him a four-star recruit and the 343rd-best player nationally, while 247Sports ranked him as a three-star recruit and the 392nd player in the country. He finished his senior season with 48 receptions for 979 yards and nine touchdowns, helping Hoover repeat as Class 7A state champions, and was invited to the Alabama–Mississippi All-Star Game.
Path to American Football
Jackson’s path to professional football was built through steady progression at Hoover High School, where he helped deliver back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017. His high school production and family connection to Bo Jackson drew the attention of several college programs, but his commitment to Auburn kept him tied to his Alabama roots.
At Auburn, Jackson spent his first three seasons working toward a larger role. He appeared in two games as a true freshman in 2018 with two receptions for 15 yards, played nine games and started five in 2019 with two receptions for 31 yards and a two-point conversion, and added six receptions for 84 yards in 2020 while also earning selection to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll. After that slow start, he broke out in 2021, becoming Auburn’s second-leading receiver and demonstrating the consistency and toughness that would later help him reach the NFL.
Shedrick Jackson Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Jackson’s college breakthrough came in 2021, when he finished as Auburn’s second-leading receiver with 40 catches for 527 yards and a touchdown. His lone touchdown that season came on a fourth-and-goal play in the final minute against Georgia State and was described as arguably the Tigers’ most important touchdown of the year, as it secured the win.
After that breakout season, Jackson returned to Auburn in 2022 following an additional year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He recorded 16 receptions for 217 yards in his final college season. He concluded his Auburn career with 66 catches for 874 yards and one touchdown, numbers that helped him earn an opportunity as an undrafted free agent.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2023–2024)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Jackson was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He was released at the Bengals’ final roster cuts on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day as he worked to prove he belonged at the professional level.
Jackson made his NFL debut during the Bengals’ Week 10 game against the Houston Texans in 2023, appearing on special teams and recording one tackle in a 30–27 loss. Following the regular season, Cincinnati signed him to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024. He was waived on August 27, 2024, re-signed to the practice squad, and released on September 17, 2024.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–Present)
Jackson was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad on December 4, 2024, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. On January 6, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with Las Vegas, securing his place with the organization into the next league year.
During the 2025 season, Jackson was waived by the Raiders as part of final roster cuts on August 26 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. In a Week 14 matchup against the Denver Broncos on December 7, 2025, he recorded his first NFL reception and first NFL touchdown on the same play, a pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett. The performance led to his promotion to the active roster on December 24, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jackson’s most significant professional moment came on December 7, 2025, when he caught his first NFL reception and scored his first NFL touchdown on the same play against the Denver Broncos. He earned that opportunity through perseverance on practice squads across two organizations, and the play marked the culmination of a long road that began as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
Shedrick Jackson Career Wins
Jackson has notched a series of career milestones that reflect steady growth rather than championship accolades. His most prominent achievements include back-to-back Class 7A state championships at Hoover High School in 2016 and 2017, a breakout 2021 season at Auburn, and his first NFL reception and touchdown with the Raiders in December 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
At Hoover High School, Jackson contributed to consecutive Class 7A state titles in 2016 and 2017. He capped his senior year with an invitation to the Alabama–Mississippi All-Star Game, a recognition given to top in-state talent. At Auburn, he set up his professional opportunity by leading the Tigers’ receiving group during a competitive 2021 season.
Shedrick Jackson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jackson comes from a prominent sports family. He is the great-nephew of Bo Jackson, the only athlete ever named an All-Star in both Major League Baseball and a Pro Bowl selection in the NFL, and a Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn. The family connection to Bo Jackson played a role in Shedrick’s own decision to attend Auburn and continue the athletic tradition.
Personal Life
Public details about Jackson’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not widely reported. He is a United States citizen and stands 6 feet 1 inch tall while competing at around 200 pounds as a wide receiver. His primary base remains within the Las Vegas Raiders organization, where he continues to develop his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Jackson’s first full year under contract with the Las Vegas Raiders after joining the team’s practice squad late in 2024. He began the season by being waived at final roster cuts on August 26 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, a familiar path he had previously navigated with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jackson’s perseverance paid off on December 7, 2025, when he recorded his first NFL reception and touchdown in a single play against the Denver Broncos. The performance, which came on a pass from quarterback Kenny Pickett, validated the work he had put in through practice squad stints in both Cincinnati and Las Vegas.
Following that breakthrough, the Raiders signed Jackson to the active roster on December 24, 2025, cementing his place in the organization heading into the league’s later stretch. The arc from undrafted free agent in 2023 to active-roster contributor in 2025 reflects a steady climb built on special teams play, patience, and a single memorable offensive moment.