With high school football heat acclimation practices starting around the WPIAL this week, teams and players are one step closer to the season commencing.
Heading into his final preseason training camp before his senior campaign, Beaver Area athlete Amari Jackson did not want to hold back any longer on where he would call home in the future.
On Tuesday, Jackson announced via X that he has committed to Villanova University, a Division I FCS program in the Coastal Athletic Association.
The 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back recruit recently narrowed his recruitment down to Fordham, Villanova and Bowling Green, but it was with the Wildcats where he felt most comfortable.
“I picked Villanova because it just felt like a second home to me,” Jackson told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “The coaches and staff were welcoming and tried forming a bond which felt very good. I liked knowing that the coaches have a strong bond with everyone and that I’d be playing for a school that wouldn’t be switching the coaches up every year.”
One of those staff members that Jackson clicked with is wide receivers coach Nate Pagan.
“Coach Pagan has tried [to form a relationship] the most. He’s talked to me about things from football to how me and my family are doing.”
Jackson took an opportunity to visit the campus not too that sits just 12 miles west of Philadelphia.
“It was great,” he said. The hospitality was tremendous and the campus looked great. I ideally wanted to go to a college that wasn’t in the middle of nowhere and that I could do things in my free time.”
On top of that, Jackson believed it was the perfect spot for his play style and the type of impact he can bring to the program.
“I feel like I fit in perfectly. I bring a lot of toughness and intensity which not only helps me but it also helps the people around on the field on staying locked in and playing at a high level,” Jackson said.
Jackson is one of the top wide receiver/defensive backs in the WPIAL Class of 2025 after registering 24 tackles and three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball last fall.
Villanova is coming off of an outstanding 10-3 campaign that included a first-round win over Youngstown State in the FCS playoffs.
The Wildcats boast one other WPIAL product in junior wide receiver Ethan Carr (Penn-Trafford).
For more on Beaver Area’s Amari Jackson, check out WPIAL Profiles below:
WPIAL Profiles: 2025 Beaver DB Amari Jackson
