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Jackson to Compete for UFL Championship
6/13/2025 11:03:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Former Duke running back Deon Jackson and the DC Defenders are one win away from becoming UFL champions. Jackson and the Defenders will take on the Michigan Panthers at 8 p.m. Saturday inside The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. The game will be broadcast on ABC.Â
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In 10 games this season, Jackson has 83 carries for 417 yards (5.02) and four touchdowns and added seven receptions for 39 yards (5.57). The Atlanta product tops the squad in rushing yards and ground scores. His 110-yard performance helped push the Defenders to the championship game.
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Jackson spent the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He appeared in 29 games with three starts, all with the Colts. He totaled 95 carries for 283 yards (2.98) and two TDs while adding 35 receptions for 223 yards (6.37) and a score. He had 42 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards and one touchdown in his first start, October 16, 2022.
As a Blue Devil, Jackson played in 48 games with 31 starts and rushed 526 times for 2,267 yards (4.31) with 18 TDs. He added 61 receptions for 534 yards (8.75) and four scores. He established the Duke single-game record with 403 all-purpose yards (162 rushing, 89 receiving and 152 kickoff return) at Pittsburgh in 2018 while becoming just the third player in ACC history to reach the 400 all-purpose yardage plateau (Clemson's Tobias Palmer; 496 vs. N.C. State in 2012 and Wake Forest's John Leach; 411 vs. Maryland in 1993). When his Duke career ended, Jackson was ranked sixth on the program's career rushing and rushing attempts chart.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
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In 10 games this season, Jackson has 83 carries for 417 yards (5.02) and four touchdowns and added seven receptions for 39 yards (5.57). The Atlanta product tops the squad in rushing yards and ground scores. His 110-yard performance helped push the Defenders to the championship game.
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It was the Deon Jackson show today ????? pic.twitter.com/rfP5fRvvtm
— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) June 9, 2025
Jackson spent the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He appeared in 29 games with three starts, all with the Colts. He totaled 95 carries for 283 yards (2.98) and two TDs while adding 35 receptions for 223 yards (6.37) and a score. He had 42 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards and one touchdown in his first start, October 16, 2022.
As a Blue Devil, Jackson played in 48 games with 31 starts and rushed 526 times for 2,267 yards (4.31) with 18 TDs. He added 61 receptions for 534 yards (8.75) and four scores. He established the Duke single-game record with 403 all-purpose yards (162 rushing, 89 receiving and 152 kickoff return) at Pittsburgh in 2018 while becoming just the third player in ACC history to reach the 400 all-purpose yardage plateau (Clemson's Tobias Palmer; 496 vs. N.C. State in 2012 and Wake Forest's John Leach; 411 vs. Maryland in 1993). When his Duke career ended, Jackson was ranked sixth on the program's career rushing and rushing attempts chart.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
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