Yahoo Movies How Savion Jackson earned No. 9 for NC State after Dave Doeren told him he ‘wasn’t ready’
Savion Jackson figured he would take his shot.
Enter the 2021 season, he asked N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren if he could switch from jersey No. 90 to No. 9.
While the request to change numbers isn’t uncommon in college football, the No. 9 for the Wolfpack is special.
That number can’t be requested. It has to be given to a player by Doeren.
Mario Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft, wore it. It was later made famous by Bradley Chubb, who now plays for the Denver Broncos, and hasn’t been worn by an N.C. State player since Chubb’s last season in 2017.
That number is honored at Carter-Finley Stadium. As a defensive end, like Williams and Chubb during their time at N.C. State, Jackson figured he’d ask for it.
“He told me I wasn’t ready,” Jackson said. “I took that to heart.”
The Clayton High grad knew the significance of wearing that jersey.
In 2006, Williams became the first ACC player to be the first pick of the NFL draft. Williams, who was drafted by the Houston Texans, was a first-team All-American in 2005 and a two-time All-ACC performer.
Chubb was a unanimous first-team All-American as a senior and was the 2017 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He set the school record for career tackles for loss (60) and sacks (26). Both records were previously held by Williams.
Jackson, a junior, is coming off his best season, even though it was cut short after nine games when he injured his knee against Florida State. Keeping what Doeren said to him when he asked to switch jerseys, he finished the 2021 season with a career-high 51 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Taking it to ‘another level’
The first day of fall camp Jackson walked onto the N.C. State practice field wearing No. 9. He won Doeren over with his “consistency over time,” which earned the jersey shortly after spring drills.
Jackson has started 13 games in three seasons with 51 career tackles. Potential is key when it comes to Doeren issuing the No. 9.
“Bradley had a solid sophomore year, one that kind of gave us the belief in him,” Doeren said. “I see that with Savion now. Bradley took it to another level. Savion still needs to do that, but we believe in him.”
Chubb only had four tackles as a freshman in 2014, while wearing No. 49. He had 66 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks as a sophomore. That offseason, Doeren started the tradition of honoring a player by giving them No. 9. Wearing the jersey, Chubb recorded 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a junior. He finished with a combined 194 tackles, including 54.5 tackles for loss and 25 sacks in his final three seasons.
Jackson has a long way to go to catch those numbers, but doesn’t feel any extra pressure to be the next Chubb or Williams.
“I just look at it like it kicks me in the butt,” Jackson said. “When I want to chill this one rep, I just keep running to the ball. I have all eyes on me, so I keep running to the ball. I just play harder.”
‘Bigger than a number’
After Doeren gave him the new jersey, Jackson had one more thing to do: He had to make a phone call to Chubb. It’s part of the requirement.
Chubb had to call Williams before he made the switch in 2016. Chubb had to make sure Jackson wanted the jersey for the right reasons and not because it “looked cool.”
“I had to grow up more and be a leader,” Jackson said. “It’s different characteristics, not just on the field. If I was a great player and a bad person off the field I probably wouldn’t be wearing it.”
There will also be a patch on the jersey to honor Williams and Chubb. Jackson doesn’t want to let those two N.C. State legends down.
“It’s bigger than a number,” Jackson said. “It’s like when you win an award, like the Heisman, that group of Heisman winners, it’s like you are part of that history or legacy.”
