University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Smith
In His Words: Jackson Dillon
Dec 17, 2018 | Football
Senior talks about his college career, plans for the future.
Note: The Jackson Dillon "In His Words" feature first appeared in the Tigers Football GameDay program Nov. 10 when Memphis hosted Tulsa.
In this feature, senior Jackson Dillon took the microphone to talk about his Memphis career – the highs and lows. Here is Dillon in his words:
(On coming to Memphis)
The crazy part about being recruited by Memphis is I knew about Memphis basketball. I didn't look into much about the football team. I got the offer, and I thought it was a D-3 offer. I thought, 'I'm better than that,' and I threw the offer in my locker. The next day, I Googled the University of Memphis, and I saw it was pretty big-time. As soon as I saw that, I said, 'That's where I'm going.' I liked the uniforms. I liked the blue because it was my high school's color.
(On his freshman year)
Honestly, coming out of high school, I didn't believe in myself. Once I got playing out there with those guys and feeling that I was as strong as they were, that kind of boosted my confidence. When I came in, I began on fifth string. During preseason camp, I started hustling, grinding. By the first game, I had moved to second string and got to play a little bit. Then, by the fourth or fifth game, I was starting.
(On the 2014 BYU game)
I had a feeling it was going to be a big game for me and us. Sometimes in your career in football, you play games where everything goes right, andÂ
that's what happened.
That game also had its downturn for me. That whole offseason, people were patting me on the back and telling me how good I am and if I have a good season coming up, I'll get drafted. I let a lot of that get in my head for my junior year. I was putting way too much pressure on myself instead of playing my football. That's what really got ahold of me my junior year.
(On his key plays in the 2015 Ole Miss game)
The (Robert) Nkemdiche play was a third down, right? (Yes) We knew he was getting the ball. When they snapped it, I was trying to find him. They ran the ball away from me, so I ran and jumped in the pile. Then, the next play on fourth-and-1, they ran trips to the boundary. I was supposed to be lined up inside because they're running a toss to (Jordan) Wilkins. I said, 'Screw that. I'm going outside those guys.' I abandoned what I was supposed to do, but made the play.
(On the coaching change)
It was pretty hard for me because I was so used to the way things were. I was kind of an old jerk. The new guys come in, and I'm the type of guy that I'm not going to give someone respect right off the bat. You have to earn it from me. That's the way I look at life. Now, after getting to know them, they are some of the best guys I've ever been around in my life.
I was hard-headed then. I've softened up quite a bit. I'd probably do it the same way because it turned out like this. Me and (head coach Mike) Norvell going through those hard times has given us the relationship we have today.
(On his injuries)
I had knee surgery four weeks before we started camp. I was like 'I got to come back. I got to be ready for camp.' I came back too early. It wasn't the trainer's decision I promise you that. But my knee wasn't ready. It needed more time to heal.
That was my first year being away from football. It tore me up. I was down-and-out about it and kind of depressed. It (pain killers) took the pain away. I had no idea what I was doing to myself, my body and my mind. That's what people on the streets are going through every day. People don't know the self-destruction they're doing. For me, one day I just woke up, and I realized everything that I had done. I quit just like that.
I was going back-and-forth between Memphis and home. I was really up to no-good. I was hanging out with the wrong people. I was disappointing my family and friends. I thought, 'I'm way better than this, and I got to get back out there.' No one told me to do this. I think it was God, honestly.
It (second injury) was tough. I had worked so hard from January 2017 until the first game to get back. I was in the best shape of my life and all that and then… Bam. I dislocated my shoulder, and it was really bad. It (rehab) went really smooth, but I didn't want to be around football while I was doing it. I love football when I'm 100 percent go and hate it when I'm not.
(On life after football)
Football is just a small chapter in my life. I love to play, but I'm tired of putting my body through all this. I have to live in this body the rest of my life. I want to start cattle-ranching, and hunting and fishing every day. I want to build old trucks, build motors. I've been looking into paramedic school. I'm a Native American, and they have a lot of programs where they help out young farmers with low interest rates. That's what I want to do. There's nothing like waking up in the winter when it's 30 degrees out, getting in your truck and going out before daylight and grabbing some coffee and getting your day started. If they drafted me to the New York Giants, I wouldn't go. I promise you I would not go. Or San Diego. I have a certain amount of years in this life, and I'm not going to do that to myself.
In this feature, senior Jackson Dillon took the microphone to talk about his Memphis career – the highs and lows. Here is Dillon in his words:
(On coming to Memphis)
The crazy part about being recruited by Memphis is I knew about Memphis basketball. I didn't look into much about the football team. I got the offer, and I thought it was a D-3 offer. I thought, 'I'm better than that,' and I threw the offer in my locker. The next day, I Googled the University of Memphis, and I saw it was pretty big-time. As soon as I saw that, I said, 'That's where I'm going.' I liked the uniforms. I liked the blue because it was my high school's color.
(On his freshman year)
Honestly, coming out of high school, I didn't believe in myself. Once I got playing out there with those guys and feeling that I was as strong as they were, that kind of boosted my confidence. When I came in, I began on fifth string. During preseason camp, I started hustling, grinding. By the first game, I had moved to second string and got to play a little bit. Then, by the fourth or fifth game, I was starting.
(On the 2014 BYU game)
I had a feeling it was going to be a big game for me and us. Sometimes in your career in football, you play games where everything goes right, andÂ
that's what happened.
That game also had its downturn for me. That whole offseason, people were patting me on the back and telling me how good I am and if I have a good season coming up, I'll get drafted. I let a lot of that get in my head for my junior year. I was putting way too much pressure on myself instead of playing my football. That's what really got ahold of me my junior year.
(On his key plays in the 2015 Ole Miss game)
The (Robert) Nkemdiche play was a third down, right? (Yes) We knew he was getting the ball. When they snapped it, I was trying to find him. They ran the ball away from me, so I ran and jumped in the pile. Then, the next play on fourth-and-1, they ran trips to the boundary. I was supposed to be lined up inside because they're running a toss to (Jordan) Wilkins. I said, 'Screw that. I'm going outside those guys.' I abandoned what I was supposed to do, but made the play.
(On the coaching change)
It was pretty hard for me because I was so used to the way things were. I was kind of an old jerk. The new guys come in, and I'm the type of guy that I'm not going to give someone respect right off the bat. You have to earn it from me. That's the way I look at life. Now, after getting to know them, they are some of the best guys I've ever been around in my life.
I was hard-headed then. I've softened up quite a bit. I'd probably do it the same way because it turned out like this. Me and (head coach Mike) Norvell going through those hard times has given us the relationship we have today.
(On his injuries)
I had knee surgery four weeks before we started camp. I was like 'I got to come back. I got to be ready for camp.' I came back too early. It wasn't the trainer's decision I promise you that. But my knee wasn't ready. It needed more time to heal.
That was my first year being away from football. It tore me up. I was down-and-out about it and kind of depressed. It (pain killers) took the pain away. I had no idea what I was doing to myself, my body and my mind. That's what people on the streets are going through every day. People don't know the self-destruction they're doing. For me, one day I just woke up, and I realized everything that I had done. I quit just like that.
I was going back-and-forth between Memphis and home. I was really up to no-good. I was hanging out with the wrong people. I was disappointing my family and friends. I thought, 'I'm way better than this, and I got to get back out there.' No one told me to do this. I think it was God, honestly.
It (second injury) was tough. I had worked so hard from January 2017 until the first game to get back. I was in the best shape of my life and all that and then… Bam. I dislocated my shoulder, and it was really bad. It (rehab) went really smooth, but I didn't want to be around football while I was doing it. I love football when I'm 100 percent go and hate it when I'm not.
(On life after football)
Football is just a small chapter in my life. I love to play, but I'm tired of putting my body through all this. I have to live in this body the rest of my life. I want to start cattle-ranching, and hunting and fishing every day. I want to build old trucks, build motors. I've been looking into paramedic school. I'm a Native American, and they have a lot of programs where they help out young farmers with low interest rates. That's what I want to do. There's nothing like waking up in the winter when it's 30 degrees out, getting in your truck and going out before daylight and grabbing some coffee and getting your day started. If they drafted me to the New York Giants, I wouldn't go. I promise you I would not go. Or San Diego. I have a certain amount of years in this life, and I'm not going to do that to myself.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballFootball: Jordon Hankins Press Conference-September 24, 2025
Wednesday, September 24
Football: Brendon Lewis Press Conference-September 24 2025
Wednesday, September 24
Football: Tim Cramsey Press Conference-September 23, 2025
Tuesday, September 23
Football: Ryan Silverfield Press Conference-September 22, 2025
Monday, September 22