The second time around, the fit was right for Arkansas and former 4-star Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove defensive end Landon Jackson.
Jackson (6-7, 275), an LSU freshman who put his name in the NCAA transfer portal on Monday, took an official visit this weekend to check out the Razorbacks and publicly committed Sunday.
Jackson, who has family in Northwest Arkansas, has taken numerous unofficial visits to Fayetteville as well.
"I had a great time. I've always loved it down here,” Jackson said. “You know I've been down here probably 8-10 times from my high school recruitment. It was the same, just gorgeous. Love the coaching staff, love everything they have planned for the coming season, so, overall, just a great trip."
Arkansas second-year coach Sam Pittman was a big factor in his decision, said Jackson, who will be immediately eligible since LSU fired coach Ed Orgeron.
"I mean, I like that Pittman cares so much for the state,” Jackson said. “He's really passionate about what he does and he's not just here because they're paying him big money. I mean, this is his dream job. I know he's going to give his all to me, so I love it down here."
He also is excited about Razorbacks defensive line coach Jermial Ashley.
“I can’t wait to work with him,” Jackson said. "He’s a great coach and an even better person.”
The opportunity to play in front of family is also appealing to Jackson, whose host was Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool.
"That was a big deal in my whole process,” Jackson said. “I’ve got aunts and uncles that live right up the road in Rogers, and then I've got cousins that go to school here currently. That made a big difference to me.
“That family aspect, family right up the road, cousins that go here, and then somewhere that I can get on the field and play this coming season. And I've got a really good relationship with Coach Pittman and (Arkansas defensive coordinator) Coach (Barry) Odom right now.”
Jackson was a 4-star prospect out of high school who had 28 scholarship offers and signed with LSU because of his bond with Orgeron, according to Pleasant Grove head coach Josh Gibson.
Gibson was on the visit with Jackson, who joins former Oklahoma wide receiver Jadon Haselwood (6-3, 205) as transfer pickups for the Razorbacks.
“Landon is extremely relational,” Gibson said. “In my opinion, that is why he was looking for another school. He went to LSU for a fit with Coach O and now Coach O is out.
“On the outside looking in, Coach Pittman seems like such a relational and genuine authentic guy and that’s important to him.”
Jackson burst on the scene as a Pleasant Grove freshman when he started and broke the school’s sack record.
“I think he is freakishly talented,” Gibson said. “He has got size and is up to 275 pounds at 6-7 and he has got great length, great size and great strength.
“He broke the school record for sacks as a ninth grader, which is pretty impressive. He is extremely long and rangy with a big, big-time motor. At that time he was probably 6-5 1/2 and 200 pounds and every year after that he just stacked on a ton of muscle and size.
“He helped us get back to the state championship game the next two years and won it again his junior year. Those last three years we were 44-4 and he is just a special talent.”
Jackson had a brilliant junior season in 2019, finishing with 110 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 8 pass breakups, 7 forced fumbles and 4 recovered, including 1 for a touchdown.
Jackson, who battled injuries his sophomore and senior seasons, played in the first five games this season with most of his snaps coming on special teams. He suffered a season-ending injury.
“He did have injuries, but every time he had injuries, the dude came back better,” Gibson said, “and I think that is a testament to how hard he worked and also that they were injuries that weren’t going to hold him back completely and weren’t going to hurt his future.
"He is an awesome person. Just a special dude.”