Bengals waive DT McKinnley Jackson

Jackson’s 2024 rookie season was negatively impacted by a knee injury suffered in training camp, but he returned in time to play in 13 games, notching 15 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Jackson is frustrated with his role, having been a healthy scratch for six of the team’s first eight games this season. Jackson joins a long line of disgruntled Bengals defenders who have taken issue with everything from salary to playing time. EDGE Trey Hendrickson (hip) remains a trade candidate after battling the front office for a new deal this offseason. LB Logan Wilson has requested a trade after losing his job to a pair of rookies, and earlier this week, the team reached a noninjury settlement with DT Mike Pennel, granting him a release. He signed with the Chiefs shortly thereafter.

Jackson (6'2/326) came out of the gate hot with the Aggies, earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. He would be accurately described as a heavy player, both in build (92nd percentile weight) and play. He carries most of his frame in his lower half, making him hard to move if he anchors down. Jackson has a surprisingly quick get-off on occasion, and uses it to surprise blockers and overpower them. His hands also come with some power behind them as blockers are often punched backwards, but Jackson must work on keeping his feet active. Too often, his first step is rendered ineffective by blockers because his feet stop when trying to push the blocker. Jackson plays with misguided enthusiasm, running himself out of the play from time to time. Nevertheless, body leverage is one of the strengths to his game that he can lean on while he develops consistency in his hand leverage. Jackson can rotate in on pass-rushing downs as an active NT that can be relied upon to move the quarterback off his spot.

Jackson (6'1"/335) was arrested in August on a second-degree felony count of possession of a controlled substance and was released on $22,000 bail. A former four-star recruit, Jackson appeared in 11 games last season for the Aggies and was an SEC All-Freshman with 13 tackles, including two tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. He should make an immediate impact on a defense that is already ranked ninth in points allowed per game (8.5).

Jackson (6'1/330) was booked on a second-degree felony count of possession of a controlled substance and was released after posting $22,000 bail. He also faces misdemeanor charges for possession of Marijuana, with the incident for which the arrest took place occurring back on April, 7. Jackson has been suspended from all team activities as is consistent with athletic department policy. The former four-star recruit appeared in all 11 games last year while earning SEC All-Freshman accolades, posting 13 tackles, 2.0 TFL and 1.5 sacks in his first year of collegiate action. He was being counted on to be a key member of the Aggies’ defensive line rotation this season.

Jackson (6'1/330) should be counted as a major get for the Aggies, as they not only land a very talented defensive lineman, they also win out for his signature over Alabama. The Lucedale, Mississippi, native knows how to throw his considerable weight around on the field and shows good hustle when forced to move off the line laterally or to the second-level. On the 247Sports composite board, Jackson lands as the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2020 class.

“This will be one of the most important commitments of the class for the Crimson Tide,” Farrell writes. The analyst likes Alabama to win out for the 6-foot-1, 330-pound Jackson over fellow combatants LSU and Ole Miss (among others). While Rivals bestows a four-star rating upon the Lucedale, Mississippi, native (the outlet ranks him as the No. 72 overall prospect in the 2020 class), Farrell notes that Jackson has five-star talent. He would just like to see a “five-star motor” go with said talent.

Jackson (6'1/330) will be joining fellow high-star defensive recruits including LB Phillip Webb, JUCO CB Brian George and current Texas A&M DT pledge Dallas Walker (who the Tigers are hoping to flip) for weekend officials. The Lucedale, Mississippi, native has already taken an official visit to Alabama and is expected to take officials to LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M in January. 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong tags LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn as all having particularly strong footing in this recruitment. On the field, Jackson can have a tendency to lean too much on his innate athletic gifts against inferior competition (over technique), but that’s not too uncommon for upper-echelon prep recruits. On the 247Sports composite board, Jackson slides in as the No. 113 overall prospect in the 2020 class.

Jackson (6'1/330) took his first official visit last weekend, checking out Alabama during the Crimson Tide’s win over Ole Miss. The four-star defensive tackle will take one more official before the end of 2019, with Auburn set to host the George County, Mississippi native from December 14-16. That will be followed by visits to LSU (Jan. 17-19), Ole Miss (Jan. 24-26) and Texas A&M (Jan. 31-Feb. 2). Jackson was formerly an LSU commit, and the Tigers remain in the running with the coaching staff continuing to recruit the talented defensive tackle hard. “As hard as ever,” Jackson told 247Sports recruiting analyst Shea Dixon when asked of LSU’s recruiting efforts. “I was committed at one point. I don’t mind committing again. I am just taking my time right now and taking my official visits.”

Jackson (6'1/330) has visited all five of his finalists at least two times this offseason, but Alabama and LSU have received over 10 visits a piece to lead the way. Near the end of June, Rivals’ Chad Simmons predicted that the George County, Mississippi, native would ultimately throw in with Ole Miss. We’ll have to wait Jackson out for his pledge, as he does not plan on making a final decision until signing day in February. That timeline could always change, but for now, looks like he is playing the long game. Rivals ranks Jackson as the No. 6 defensive tackle prospect in the 2020 class.

Jackson (6'1/330) has pinged around in his recruitment, with Simmons writing that “he continues to go everywhere” and that he has been keeping recruitniks on their toes with his seemingly open interest to a number of different programs. The Rivals analyst cuts through the mystery a bit, relaying that he has been hearing Ole Miss linked to Jackson for some time now. Given that the George County, Mississippi, native does not plan on making a decision until February’s signing day, there is still plenty of time for this thing to take unexpected turns. LSU, FSU and Alabama are among the other programs trying for his pledge. Rivals ranks Jackson as the No. 103 overall prospect in the 2020 class.