A lot can change in just one year, and Kansas State junior running back Joe Jackson is living proof. Twelve months ago, he was grinding through spring workouts, pushing himself to earn even a small role in the Wildcats’ backfield. His freshman season produced 277 rushing yards, but his ambition and belief in himself were much bigger. All he wanted was a real shot as a sophomore.
What followed was the payoff of patience and hard work: Jackson became an All-Big 12 Third Team selection after leading the team with 911 rushing yards, scoring eight touchdowns, and averaging 75.9 yards per game — the fifth-best mark in the conference.
Amazing? Jackson doesn’t see it that way.
“That was always the plan, so it didn’t surprise me,” he says. “I visualized it, worked for it, and believed I could make it happen. The more the season went on, the more confidence I gained.”
Now the 6-foot, 207-pound Haines City, Florida native — humble and steady — is back for more. With first-year head coach Collin Klein, new running backs coach Cory Patterson, and incoming transfers Jay Harris from Oregon and Rodney Fields Jr. from Oklahoma State, Jackson’s consistency, leadership, and explosiveness remain key pieces in an offense Klein will lead as both head coach and play-caller.
Klein originally recruited Jackson in 2023 as offensive coordinator, and the two quickly reconnected after Klein returned to Manhattan in December.
“When he called, I told him, ‘Everything happens for a reason. Let’s finish what we started,’” Jackson recalls. “I love Kansas State. Last season didn’t go how it was supposed to, and I came back to finish what we set out to do as freshmen.”
Jackson’s high school résumé was impressive — 1,143 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games, including a school-record 326-yard, six-touchdown performance. Ranked the No. 514 prospect in the 2023 class by On3 Consensus, he caught the eye of Klein and former running backs coach Brian Anderson, both of whom believed his breakout would come with time.
And when it came, it was historic.
On November 22, 2025, Jackson delivered a record-shattering performance at Rice-Eccles Stadium, rushing for 293 yards — the most ever by a K-State player in a game — surpassing Darren Sproles’ 2004 mark. It was the second-highest rushing total in the FBS that season, and his 312 scrimmage yards were the second-most in school history. His 12.9 yards per carry stood as a K-State record in the Big 12 era.
Klein recently called K-State “one of the best offenses to play running back in the country,” a comment that energizes Jackson, who ranks seventh all-time in school history with 5.37 yards per carry and has 1,139 career rushing yards in 24 games.
“As a running back, you love hearing that,” Jackson says. “Coach Klein’s versatility opens things up for everyone — running backs, receivers, tight ends. It puts pressure on defenses in a lot of ways. He’s one of the best play-callers in the country.”
Looking ahead, Jackson knows there is still room to grow.
“There are little things people don’t notice — patience, vision, trusting the line, understanding the scheme,” he says. “Fixing the small stuff can take my game to another level.”
Patterson agrees. The new running backs coach, known for developing Illinois star Chase Brown into a Doak Walker finalist, sees untapped potential.
“Joe’s a dawg,” Patterson says. “He has a strong stiff-arm and can run through people. Now we’re working on turning 15-yard runs into 60-yard runs. He can carry the ball 25 times a game — not many guys can do that anymore.”
Jackson appreciates Patterson’s relentless energy.
“He won’t let you have an off day,” Jackson says. “He set high expectations for me from the start. He promised to push me harder than anyone ever has and I accepted it.”
Jackson is also embracing his responsibilities as a leader.
“I’m naturally introverted, but I had to grow,” he explains. “My dad pushed me, my coaches pushed me. Now I make sure I’m bringing everyone along with me.”
That includes bonding with new transfers Harris and Fields Jr.
“We’ve clicked right away,” Jackson says. “We push each other, and we balance each other. Staying fresh is going to be huge for the kind of season we want.”
With 155 days until K-State opens the 2026 season against Nicholls, the energy in spring practice is already intense.
“Today was our best day yet,” Jackson says. “Both sides of the ball brought real juice.”
And Jackson believes the Wildcats’ ceiling is high.
“We can be dangerous,” he says. “We just have to keep getting 1% better every day.”
A lot can change in a year.
Jackson evolved into a legitimate weapon last season.
In 2026, he may rise even higher and establish himself as one of the nation’s premier running backs.
