OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Coastal Carolina redshirt senior defensive end Tarron Jackson has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate football, an award that recognizes student-athletes that excel both and on off the field.
 
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
 
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. 
 
A 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist, Bednarik Award semifinalist, and 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl invitee, Jackson leads the Chanticleers' defense this season with 8.5 sacks, which also ranks second in the Sun Belt, and 12.5 tackles-for-loss despite being double-teamed all season long. He also leads the team with 16 quarterback hurries, is fifth in total tackles with 46, and ranks second in the Sun Belt with three forced fumbles.
 
A three-time Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week award and one-time Walter Camp FBS National Defensive Player of the Week recipient this year, Jackson has also been named to the Ted Hendricks and Lott IMPACT award watch lists.
 
A Walter V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, Jackson has worked with numerous charities and events over his time at Coastal Carolina including volunteering at events such as Tim Tebow's "Night to Shine" Prom, Caring for Kindergartners, Black History Month Program, pumpkin drives, and Christmas events.
 
He has also served at Shepherd's Table (Food Shelter) in Conway, "Be the Match" (Bone Marrow Drive) on campus, Centenary United Methodist Church-Pumpkin sale, and "Trunk or Treat" at Coastal Carolina University, while also serving on the leadership team of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at CCU.
 
The Aiken, S.C. native has already earned his degree in mathematics, having graduated in May 2020.
 
Jackson is Coastal's single-season leader in sacks with 10.0 last season and is the Chanticleers' all-time career leader in sacks (26.5), yards lost from sacks (176), tackles-for-loss (43.0), yards lost from tackles-for-loss (214), and quarterback hurries (32).
 
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier in the season. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through Monday, December 21. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I head coaches' votes to determine the winner. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in late December.
 
For more information on all the finalists, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

2020-21 Football Finalists

Ian Book, University of Notre Dame
Shane Buechele, Southern Methodist University
Greg Eisworth, Iowa State University
Robert Hainsey, University of Notre Dame
Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina University
Kekaula Kaniho, Boise State University
Kwity Paye, University of Michigan
Chazz Surratt, University of North Carolina
Kyle Trask, University of Florida
Brady White, University of Memphis

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