D’Qwell Jackson grew up in Seminole, Florida where he attended and played football at Seminole High School. D’Qwell spent time at linebacker, fullback, quarterback and punter during his time at Seminole. As a junior, Jackson recorded 150 tackles and 12 sacks. His senior year D’Qwell totaled 91 tackles and 10 sacks as a linebacker and rushed for 950 yards, scoring 13 touchdowns as a fullback. He was a first team all-state player in each of his final two seasons in high school. He was recruited by Florida, N.C. State, and LSU coming out of high school but he opted to attend Maryland instead. D’Qwell saw action as a true freshman and made an immediate impact, posting 51 tackles on the season. By the start of his sophomore season, Jackson was a starter for the Terps. He went on to record 136 tackles,2 ½ sacks, and 2 interceptions in his first full season as a starter. He continued his excellent play as a junior totaling 123 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions on the year. D’Qwell entered his senior season as the Terps’ best defensive player and one of the most respected linebackers in college football.

D’Qwell Jackson is one of the most experienced linebackers in college football, having started in the middle the past three seasons for Maryland. He is a very athletic player with good speed for a middle linebacker. He sheds blocks well and closes the gap quickly against the run. Jackson does a good job of penetrating the backfield and has the speed to chase ballcarriers down in pursuit. He has excellent range which gives him the ability to make plays sideline to sideline and he always seems to be around the football. D’Qwell is a force against the run--He is an explosive hitter who rarely misses a tackle. He is solid in coverage and does have the ability to stay with most tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield. D’Qwell has excellent leadership qualities—He was a two-time team captain and the unquestioned leader of the Maryland defense. He is a tough player with an outstanding work ethic and always strives for perfection. The biggest question when it comes to D’Qwell playing in the NFL is whether or not he is big enough to play in the middle at the professional level. He is a bit undersized for a MLB, but he plays bigger than his size would indicate. He has had some injury problems with his hand and he did miss the 2005 spring practices while recovering from surgery on his wrist, but he hasn’t had any major injuries in his career. D’Qwell has the athletic ability and all the intangibles you look for in a middle linebacker. He should be one of the top linebackers selected in the 2006 NFL draft.