Jackson Barker

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-2
Weight:
227
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Fuquay-Varina
High School:
Fuquay-Varina
Major:
Exercise Physiology

Three-year letterman (2023-25) who has played in 39 career games … Booked 37 total tackles (16 solo) with 2.5 TFLs (-4 yards) and one sack (-2 yards) … Booked at least one tackle in 19 of 39 career games (multiple 10 times) … Registered a career-best seven tackles against Army in 2025 … Moved back to the defensive side of the ball (linebacker) prior to the start of the 2024 spring semester … Named College Football Network Honorable Mention All-American as a special teams member … Garnered Second-Team All-AAC honors by College Football Network on special teams … Two-time CSC Academic All-District member (2023 and 2025).

2025: Named Go Bowling Military Bowl STEM Scholar-Athlete … Earned CSC Academic All-District honors … For second consecutive season played in all 13 of ECU’s games as a member of the defensive and special teams units … Logged 159 snaps on defense … Earned three varsity letter … Booked 21 tackles (nine solo) with 1.5 TFLs (-3 yards) which included a two-yard sack against Charlotte … Also had a half TFL against Army (-1 yard) … Tied for 14th nationally in fumbles recovered with two … Registered at least one tackled in 10 of 13 contests (multiple five times) … Established a new career-high with seven tackles (two solo) against Army … Recovered fumbles against Charlotte and Pittsburgh … Shared team lead with Jonathan Jean recording five special team tackles … Two of five special team stops came against Temple.

2024: Played in all 13 of ECU’s games mainly as special teams members … Earned second varsity letter after logging 413 total snaps (80 defense, 333 special teams) … Tallied 12 tackles (six solo) … Credited with 1.0 TFL (-1 yard) coming in the season opener against Norfolk State … Registered at least one tackle in six of 13 contests (multiple four times) … Tied for third on the team with six special teams tackles with Devon King … Credited with a career-high three tackles on two occasions (Temple, Florida Atlantic) … Also booked two stops against Norfolk State and at Tulsa … Named College Football Network Honorable Mention All-American as a special teams member … Garnered Second-Team All-AAC honors by College Football Network on special teams … Recipient of ECU Academic Achievement Award at the annual end of the year banquet.

2023: Earned first varsity letter after appearing in 11 contests … Started season as a member of the defensive unit (linebacker) before moving to the offense (tight end) prior to the Gardner-Webb game (Sept. 16) … Logged 184 snaps – all as a member of special teams’ unit … Recorded two tackles (both assisted) coming against Tulane (Nov. 4) on special teams … Lone game he did not appear in was the season opener at No. 2 Michigan.

2022: Redshirted during initial season with the program … Appeared in a pair of games (South Florida and Coastal Carolina) ... Earned Defensive Scout Team Player-of-the-Year Award at ECU's annual end of the year banquet ... Logged one tackle (solo) against the Chanticleers in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.

High School: Four-sport athlete at Fuquay-Varina High School (football, basketball, lacrosse, track) … Four-year letterman and two-way player for head football coach Jeb Hall … Rushed for over 2,500 yards on 249 carries (8.8 ypr) and scored 18 touchdowns …. Additionally, caught 18 passes for 370 yards (20.5 ypc) with four scores … Defensively, credited with 61 tackles (26 solo) including two TFLs and two fumble recoveries as a safety … Credited with nine pass breakups and one interception … Helped lead the Bengals to a 7-4 record and a trip to the playoffs his senior year … Ran for 1,160 yards with 10 TDs in 11 games on his way to First-Team All-Greater Neuse Conference honors … Selected to the participate in the 2021 North Carolina Shrine Bowl (defensive back), 2021 Carolina Bowl (running back) and the 2021 919v252 Bowl (running back) … In a 48-13 win over the 252 squad, he had a five-yard touchdown run, completed a 35-yard pass, threw a two-point conversion while tallying three tackles as a team captain … As a junior, earned First-Team All-SWAC honors after rushing for 760 yards with seven touchdowns in seven contests … Rushed for 650 yards with five scores as a sophomore in 11 games … As a freshman, played 16 games on the hardwood averaging 8.7 points per game … Finished campaign with 138 points, 84 rebounds (58 defensive), 17 assists and 25 steals … Appeared in three varsity games at the conclusion of freshman season … Finalist for the National Football Foundation’s Bill Dooley Scholar-Athlete Award (2022) … Sported a 4.2 GPA at Fuquay-Varina …Member of the National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Chose East Carolina over offers from Air Force, Army, Campbell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Navy and others.

Personal: Majoring in exercise physiology … Recipient of ECU Academic Achievement Award at the annual end of the year banquet … Earned ECU Director of Athletics Dean’s List honors in fall 2024, spring 2025 and fall 2025 … Three-time American Conference All-Academic Team selection (2022-24).