Jackson Malachi Meeks (born March 24, 2003) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

wide receiver A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...

for the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Georgia Bulldogs The Georgia Bulldogs are the College athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The offic ...

and

Syracuse Orange The Syracuse Orange are the college athletics in the United States, athletic teams that represent Syracuse University. The school is a member of NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Until 2013, Syracuse was a member of the Big East ...

Early life and high school

Meeks attended Central High School in

Phenix City, Alabama Phenix City is a city in Lee and Russell counties in the U.S. state of Alabama, and the county seat of Russell County. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 38,817. Phenix City lies immediately west across the Chattahoochee ...

. He was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play

for the

over offers from schools such as Ole Miss, South Alabama, and West Virginia.

College career

Georgia

In his first three collegiate seasons from 2021 to 2023, Meeks played in 36 games and he hauled in ten receptions for 132 yards, while also making five tackles. After the 2023 season, he entered his name into the

NCAA transfer portal The NCAA transfer portal is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) application, database, and compliance tool created to manage and facilitate the process for student athletes seeking to transfer between member institutions. It is i ...

Syracuse

Meeks transferred to play for the

. In week 5 of the 2024 season, he hauled in ten receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown in a win over

Holy Cross Holy Cross or Saint Cross may refer to: * the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus * Christian cross, a frequently used religious symbol of Christianity * True Cross, supposed remnants of the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified * Feast o ...

, and was named the ACC receiver of the week. In week 7, Meeks notched 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in a win over

NC State North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina sy ...

, once again earning ACC receiver of the week honors.

Professional career

Meeks signed with the

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

on May 9, 2025.

Personal life

Meeks is the nephew of NFL linebacker

Za'Darius Smith Za'Darius Smith (born September 8, 1992) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football at East Mississippi Community College before transferring to play for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was selected by the Baltimor ...

References

External links

Detroit Lions bioGeorgia Bulldogs bioSyracuse Orange bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meeks, Jackson 2003 births Living people Players of American football from Phenix City, Alabama American football wide receivers Georgia Bulldogs football players Syracuse Orange football players Detroit Lions players