The 2024 college football season presents an entirely new landscape. Texas is in the SEC. SMU is back in a power conference as ACC members. The College Football Playoff now includes 12 teams and an automatic bid for the best G5 team in the land. For most, the start of the season is in Week 1 on August 30, though SMU starts in Week 0 and TCU plays its first game on Aug. 29. 

To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas as we inch closer to kickoffs. This list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best in terms of NFL draft stock. It ranks players in order of importance to their team's success. 

No. 22: BAYLOR WR KETRON JACKSON JR. 

The history: Jackson grew up in Royse City where he played varsity football for the Bulldogs as a two-time all-district selection. He committed to Arkansas as a four-star receiver in the 2021 class. Jackson played the 2021 and 2022 seasons for the Razorbacks, playing in 25 games with eight starts over those two seasons. He caught 21 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns before jumping into the transfer portal and landing at Baylor ahead of the 2023 season. Jackson was third on the team last year with 28 catches for 489 yards and a touchdown as he started in all 10 games he played. 

The skillset: The 6-3, 205-pound Jackson is a physical specimen. He’s a big, fast wide receiver who can outmuscle most cornerbacks and out run most safeties. He’s a true outside receiver who can high point footballs. There is a reason that Jackson was the 21st ranked wide receiver in the country and a top 220 overall prospect leaving Royse City. He hasn’t been a consistently dominant force yet in his college career, but he has the physical tools necessary to be a true WR1 in the Big 12 as a senior. 

The impact: The arrival of new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital means the Baylor wide receivers will be asked to produce more than the group did under Jeff Grimes. Jackson could be the primary benefactor. And while smaller body types such as Monaray Baldwin and Ashtyn Hawkins feast in the short passing attack, Jackson will be tasked with becoming a deep threat who can also be a big-bodied target on third down and in the red zone. Tight end Drake Dabney was the second leading receiver last season for the Bears, but Spav doesn’t use tight ends often.