Auburn steals four-star EDGE Rion Jackson away from Virginia Tech

Auburn head football coach Alex Golesh. Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Auburn steals four-star EDGE Rion Jackson away from James Franklin, Virginia Tech

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 10, 2026 8:57 PM ET

Rion Jackson was going to play football for James Franklin and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

It made sense, too. Jackson, a four-star EDGE from Annapolis, Maryland, is one of the top players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area.

New Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin has always done well recruiting the region, so it appeared as if the stars were lining up for Jackson to head to Blacksburg.

But then, the Auburn Tigers came calling.

Jackson met with defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and EDGE coach Coleman Hutzler, and that started a chain reaction.

“I was supposed to officially visit Virginia Tech on May 29,” Jackson told Rivals. “But I had dinner with Coach Durkin and Coach Hutzler, and we were just talking when they saw me in the spring. Things changed. I was like, what do I have to lose by visiting down there?”

Instead of taking another visit to Virginia Tech, Jackson decided to check out The Plains to see what Auburn is all about.

That visit changed everything, and he committed to the Tigers on Wednesday.

4-star EDGE Rion Jackson fakes out Virginia Tech and commits to Auburn

“I’m an SEC guy. I wanted to play in the SEC.” https://t.co/nbLXJHE06g pic.twitter.com/aHvcLf4zh5
— Rivals (@Rivals) June 10, 2026

Visit to Auburn changed things for four-star EDGE Rion Jackson

“I was going to commit to Virginia Tech,” Jackson revealed. “But then I got down there and it was just different. Definitely just going in there and having one-on-ones with the coaches, one-on-ones with my position coaches, talking to the assistants and just feeling everybody out changed everything for me. Everybody has the same goal. I want to be a part of that.”

This is a big commitment for new head coach Alex Golesh and his staff.

Checking in at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, Jackson is ranked as the No. 33 EDGE in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite.

In 2025 for Annapolis High School, he snagged 62 tackles (16 tackles for loss), 13 sacks, six passes broken up, two forced fumbles and one interception (which was returned for a touchdown).

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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