Receiver Kahleil Jackson, No. 22, returns to the sideline after his 48-yard trick-play pass in Saturday's victory at Auburn. (Photo: Alyssa Morrison/UAA Communications)
Jackson To Jackson: 'Unc' Has A Moment
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Football
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By: Ryan Roddy, FloridaGators.com Student Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When Kahleil Jackson began his collegiate career at the University of Florida in 2020, some of his current teammates were still in middle school.
It wasn't a lack of talent that kept the local product from Hawthorne off the field the past two seasons. It was a knee injury, uncertainty and a long road back.
Jackson tore his ACL and MCL in the Gators' 2024 season opener against Miami. He missed the rest of the 2024 season and all of 2025 because of the injury.
"Yeah, it was a long, tough 18 months, two years," Jackson said. "A lot of hard days, long days, struggling with the injuries and stuff. But I think, with the right mindset, that's ultimately what led me to push through and … make an impact on the game."
Jackson eyed a return long ago, and even though he was granted a seventh year of eligibility, uncertainty surrounded his future in Gainesville. With Jon Sumrall, the third head coach of his UF career, Jackson didn't know whether the new staff would bring him back.
He didn't let it faze him.
"I wasn't really worried or anything, because I know I always had the right mindset going into every situation, and I know how I'm built," Jackson said. "So, we had a talk when he first got. I talked with the whole staff, and they said they would give me a clean slate to do whatever I needed to do to prove myself and to show them that I can do what I can still do."
Through self-motivation and the will to succeed, Jackson put in the work, and soon enough he returned to form. With the help of the new strength and conditioning staff, he said he began to feel like himself again during the spring and summer.
Jackson contributed right away in the first two games of 2026. He saw 29 snaps against FAU and caught two passes for 19 yards against Campbell.
At 25, Jackson is older than many of his teammates. They call him "Unc." He had a signature moment against Auburn.
With 10 minutes and 14 seconds left in the second quarter, it's third-and-8 from Florida's own 39-yard line, with the Gators ahead 14-10.
It's time for "Uncle Jack."
In the shotgun, Aaron Philo looks left and passes to Jackson beyond the line of scrimmage. What fans and Auburn personnel may not have known is that Jackson played quarterback in high school and was originally a quarterback at UF before switching to receiver. He looks downfield and finds tight end Amir Jackson right at the numbers for a 48-yard gain.
Tight end Amir Jackson makes a diving catch on Kahleil Jackson's throw at Auburn. (Photo: Alyssa Morrison/UAA Communications)
Jackson said he'd wanted to complete a pass in the game, and everyone, including fellow receiver Vernell Brown III, was pumped that he got the chance after throwing an interception against Vanderbilt in 2023. He also got a text from about 20 of his old teammates.
"That was amazing," Brown said. "Obviously, he has a quarterback background. We were all confident that he would make that throw, and it was just amazing to see."
The play was well orchestrated in practice, and it wasn't an if, but a when. Jackson said the team ran it about 20 times, and he completed the pass every single time except once, the morning before the game in a walkthrough, where he overthrew it by 25 yards into a curtain at the team hotel, according to offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.
"We put it in a couple weeks ago, but this was the first time we actually ran it in a game," Jackson said.
In a game Sumrall likened to a boxing match, Florida needed to "work the cut." Jackson's trick play landed like a clean punch.
"When we called it on the third down-and-long, I'm like – I almost said to Buster – 'Are you sure you want to use it here?' Then I'm like, 'you know what? Let's let it rip," Sumrall said. "So worked out good, but great call. Really, really, really good, big play. There were several of those types of scenarios in the game that I thought we had a good call at the right time."
Through three games, Faulkner's offense ranks second in the FBS in points per game (54) and third in total yards per game (544.3). He says he doesn't call many trick plays, but this one was worth it. It was exactly as he envisioned, from the situation to the execution.
"Kahleil did a great job, did a great job all the time," Faulkner said. "The players executed, did a great job. Amir did a great job running and going and getting underneath it."
Faulkner himself was unaware of Jackson's arm talent until he saw him with quarterbacks who weren't in. They tried the play out, and it stuck.
The opportunity was a blessing for Jackson. After a difficult path back to the field, he contributed in his own unique ways, and he's looking for more in the future.
"I definitely want to get more opportunities," he said. "However they come, I just got to make the most of them, whether that's catching passes, blocking or throwing touchdowns."
His contributions off the field are immeasurable. They are invaluable.
It goes without saying that his long career brings coveted experience. He may not automatically offer it to younger players, but he provides wisdom to those who seek it.
"I try not to bring it up too much on my own, but if the guys ask, I definitely give them some insight and, you know, try to lead them in the right direction, give them some good advice, and, you know, just go from there," he said.
It's been a long, grueling and at times frustrating journey for No. 22. A career that began with a position change, was interrupted by a significant injury and has brought him to a final season in Gainesville, where his teammates call him Unc.
When Gators fans look back on the 2026 season, or even the 44-39 victory against Auburn, they may not immediately remember the double pass from K. Jackson to A. Jackson, but Unc surely will.
"I'm pretty fortunate that I still get this opportunity," he said.
