Nick Jackson’s first collegiate interception reminds him of once picking off eventual NFL star Kyle Hamilton

IOWA CITY — Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson had what Kirk Ferentz aptly described as a “little different and unique” interception.

“I didn't quite see the footwork that he used,” the 26th-year Iowa head football coach said after the game. “I just saw that on a highlight. It was a good play. I didn't know it was that good of a play.”

The interception went off his right hand, his right foot and then teammate Brian Allen’s helmet and arm before finally landing in Jackson’s arms for the interception. He then returned it 28 yards before being tackled at the Wisconsin 12-yard line.

Jackson “couldn’t even tell you what happened” after the game.

“It’s just one of those things where Coach (Seth) Wallace put you in the right spot, and then the ball luckily ends up in your hand.”

He certainly could tell you about his previous interception, though.

It was remarkably not in any of his previous 68 games of college football at Virginia or Iowa. It was not in high school either, but rather when he was playing youth football with eventual NFL safety Kyle Hamilton. (Jackson said Hamilton is “like my best friend, my brother.”)

“When I was six or seven in peewee football, he was the Bengals and I was the Jets,” Jackson said. “That was a pick-six. … He threw it. I caught it and definitely housed it. And we won.”

Hamilton, of course, overcame that humbling moment against Jackson. He was a first-team All-American in two of his three seasons at Notre Dame, and the Baltimore Ravens drafted him with the 14th overall pick in 2022.

“That’s probably the last time he threw a pick-six,” Jackson said.

One of the reporters brought up that Hamilton now is one of the best players in the NFL.

“Yeah, but I pick-sixed him,” Jackson said with a laugh before looking to one of the cameras. “Yeah, send me that clip.”

Unlike Jackson’s proud moment against Hamilton, he did not take it to the house against Wisconsin, so he will “definitely get with Coach Rai (Braithwaite), do some extra speed work this week.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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