Joseph Jackson has had a change of heart

First coast linebacker Joseph Jackson, the long time commitment to the University of West Virginia, has decided to open up his recruitment. Jackson has always spoken highly of the West Virginia program and although he has had a change of heart on where he will attend college, he still enjoys everything about WVU as a whole.

"I just decided that it may not be the right place for me at this time. I want to be able to play in front of my family more and it will be easier to play somewhere a little closer to home. I really respect the coaches and players at WVU and appreciate all the time they have put in towards recruiting me. It is a great school and campus."

Jackson, who committed to West Virginia back on March 21, 2011, was very complimentary to the Mountaineer coaching staff, especially Coach Robert Gillespie.

"Coach Gillespie is who I spoke to about the decommitment. He is a terrific person and that was the reason it was tough for me. He's my man. That hurts me to hurt him. I just had to be a man and follow my heart and what I believe in. He said that he appreciated me being a man about everything."

Jackson recently took an official visit to the University of North Carolina and spoke very highly of the Tarheels.

"The North Carolina trip was really good. I learned a lot about the school and the program. They are a very big contender for my services. I could see myself playing there and living there after graduation. That was one thing that I couldn't see about West Virginia. Even though I loved everything about West Virginia, I just don't think it is the place for me."

Jackson is currently ranked #102 in the FlaVarsity 160.

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