Drake Jackson named most valuable returning center in college football

Coming off of an All-SEC junior season and leading an offensive line that had Lynn Bowden rush for a bajillion yards behind it, Kentucky center Drake Jackson has high expectations heading into his senior campaign.

With his eyes on both winning the SEC East and getting his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jackson has now been named “the most valuable center returning to college football in 2020” by Pro Football Focus.

Jackson will be leading a veteran offensive line coming off of one of the best performances in the country last season. The in-state star has proven to be the anchor for this group in the last two seasons, and the sky is the limit for the offensive line and the run game given the players the have coming back this fall.

Jackson has started 33 consecutive games for Mark Stoops in Lexington after playing his high school football in nearby Versailles. If he lives up to expectations this season, he will not be able to stay in Lexington as, pandemic pending, NFL rookie camp will come calling next summer.