Gabe Jackson Named 2025 SEC Football Legend
October 22, 2025 | Football
STARKVILLE — The Southeastern Conference and Mississippi State proudly announce that Gabe Jackson will be honored as State's 2025 SEC Football Legend.
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A dominant force on the offensive line for the Bulldogs from 2010 to 2013, Jackson's decorated career at Mississippi State set the stage for a standout professional career in the NFL that spanned a decade.
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Jackson was a four-year starter at left guard for the Bulldogs, starting all 52 games in his career and was considered the top guard prospect for the 2014 NFL Draft by ESPN.com. He was a first-team All-American by Bleacher Report, a second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp, USA Today and Athlon Sports, a two-time first-team All-SEC honoree, and capped his career by winning the C Spire Conerly Trophy as the top collegiate player in Mississippi, becoming just the third offensive lineman ever to earn the award.
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As a senior in 2013, Jackson anchored an offensive line that powered MSU's record-setting offense in total yards, first downs and yards per game. He did not allow a single sack that season, earned first-team All-SEC recognition from both the league's coaches and the Associated Press, and also received the Kent Hull Award as Mississippi's top offensive lineman.
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Selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 81st overall pick in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Jackson went on to start 132 of 136 games played during his 10-year professional career. In that span, he never allowed more than five sacks in a season and surrendered only three combined across his first four years in the league. His NFL stops included the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2014–20), Seattle Seahawks (2021–22), and Carolina Panthers (2023).
The 2025 Football Legends class includes 16 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions. This year's class includes a Heisman Trophy winner, national champions, All-Americans, All-SEC selections, Academic All-Americans and NFL standouts. The group represents teams that won SEC Championships, claimed Super Bowl titles and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame.
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The class will be honored at the 2025 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" December 5-6 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 5 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 6.
Jackson joins an incredibly talented list of SEC Legends from Mississippi State: Johnny Baker (1994), Jimmy Webb (1995), Hunter Corhern (1996), Steve Freeman (1997), Johnie Cooks (1998), D.D. Lewis (1999), Kent Hull (2000), Rockey Felker (2001), Harper Davis (2002), Tyrone Keys (2003), Art Davis (2004), Joe Fortunato (2005), Wayne Harris (2006), Billy Jackson (2007), Tom Goode (2008), Billy Stacy (2009), Eric Moulds (2010), Tom Neville (2011), Walt Harris (2012), Glen Collins (2013), Fred Smoot (2014), Mario Haggan (2015), Randy Thomas (2016), Floyd Womack (2017), Mardye McDole (2018), Barrin Simpson (2019), K.J. Wright (2022), Reggie Kelly (2023) and Fletcher Cox (2024).
2025 SEC Football Legends
Alabama - C.J. Mosley, Linebacker, 2010-13
Arkansas - Kenoy Kennedy, Safety, 1996-99
Auburn - Cam Newton, Quarterback, 2010
Florida - Brandon Spikes, Linebacker, 2006-09
Georgia - Randy Johnson, Offensive Guard, 1973-75
Kentucky - Jacob Tamme, Tight End, 2004-07
LSU - Tyrann Mathieu, Cornerback, 2010-11
Ole Miss – William "Bill" Smith, Punter, 1983-86
Mississippi State - Gabe Jackson, Offensive Guard, 2009-13
Missouri - Mitch Morse, Offensive Lineman, 2010-14
Oklahoma - Lucious Selmon, Nose Guard, 1970-73
South Carolina - Connor Shaw, Quarterback, 2010-13
Tennessee - Kevin Burnett, Linebacker, 2000-04
Texas - Derrick Johnson, Linebacker, 2001-04
Texas A&M - R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M, 1989-2002
Vanderbilt - Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, 2010-13
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For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on X, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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A dominant force on the offensive line for the Bulldogs from 2010 to 2013, Jackson's decorated career at Mississippi State set the stage for a standout professional career in the NFL that spanned a decade.
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Jackson was a four-year starter at left guard for the Bulldogs, starting all 52 games in his career and was considered the top guard prospect for the 2014 NFL Draft by ESPN.com. He was a first-team All-American by Bleacher Report, a second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp, USA Today and Athlon Sports, a two-time first-team All-SEC honoree, and capped his career by winning the C Spire Conerly Trophy as the top collegiate player in Mississippi, becoming just the third offensive lineman ever to earn the award.
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As a senior in 2013, Jackson anchored an offensive line that powered MSU's record-setting offense in total yards, first downs and yards per game. He did not allow a single sack that season, earned first-team All-SEC recognition from both the league's coaches and the Associated Press, and also received the Kent Hull Award as Mississippi's top offensive lineman.
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Selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 81st overall pick in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Jackson went on to start 132 of 136 games played during his 10-year professional career. In that span, he never allowed more than five sacks in a season and surrendered only three combined across his first four years in the league. His NFL stops included the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2014–20), Seattle Seahawks (2021–22), and Carolina Panthers (2023).
The 2025 Football Legends class includes 16 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions. This year's class includes a Heisman Trophy winner, national champions, All-Americans, All-SEC selections, Academic All-Americans and NFL standouts. The group represents teams that won SEC Championships, claimed Super Bowl titles and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame.
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The class will be honored at the 2025 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" December 5-6 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 5 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 6.
Jackson joins an incredibly talented list of SEC Legends from Mississippi State: Johnny Baker (1994), Jimmy Webb (1995), Hunter Corhern (1996), Steve Freeman (1997), Johnie Cooks (1998), D.D. Lewis (1999), Kent Hull (2000), Rockey Felker (2001), Harper Davis (2002), Tyrone Keys (2003), Art Davis (2004), Joe Fortunato (2005), Wayne Harris (2006), Billy Jackson (2007), Tom Goode (2008), Billy Stacy (2009), Eric Moulds (2010), Tom Neville (2011), Walt Harris (2012), Glen Collins (2013), Fred Smoot (2014), Mario Haggan (2015), Randy Thomas (2016), Floyd Womack (2017), Mardye McDole (2018), Barrin Simpson (2019), K.J. Wright (2022), Reggie Kelly (2023) and Fletcher Cox (2024).
2025 SEC Football Legends
Alabama - C.J. Mosley, Linebacker, 2010-13
Arkansas - Kenoy Kennedy, Safety, 1996-99
Auburn - Cam Newton, Quarterback, 2010
Florida - Brandon Spikes, Linebacker, 2006-09
Georgia - Randy Johnson, Offensive Guard, 1973-75
Kentucky - Jacob Tamme, Tight End, 2004-07
LSU - Tyrann Mathieu, Cornerback, 2010-11
Ole Miss – William "Bill" Smith, Punter, 1983-86
Mississippi State - Gabe Jackson, Offensive Guard, 2009-13
Missouri - Mitch Morse, Offensive Lineman, 2010-14
Oklahoma - Lucious Selmon, Nose Guard, 1970-73
South Carolina - Connor Shaw, Quarterback, 2010-13
Tennessee - Kevin Burnett, Linebacker, 2000-04
Texas - Derrick Johnson, Linebacker, 2001-04
Texas A&M - R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M, 1989-2002
Vanderbilt - Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, 2010-13
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For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on X, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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– HailState.com –
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