Former WVU DL Coach Andrew Jackson Headed to Penn State

Former WVU defensive line coach Andrew Jackson is headed to Penn State. Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports initially reported the Nittany Lions are “expected” to hire Jackson on Sunday. WV Sports Now was then able to confirm the news as well.

Jackson will serve as a defensive line analyst on James Franklin’s staff in State College.

I can 100% confirm Andrew Jackson or “AJ” as he’s often called is headed to Penn State. https://t.co/06XyKVWOPw

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) February 9, 2025

Jackson spent the past four years at WVU as Neal Brown’s defensive line coach. Prior to joining the Mountaineers, Jackson worked at Mississippi State, JMU and Old Dominion. He was even a graduate assistant at Penn State in 2015-16 early in his coaching career.

Jackson was named one of the country’s “rising star” assistant coaches in August of 2023.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

Below is more about Jackson via WVU. 

In 2023, Jackson’s defensive line was able to use as many as three-deep across the front, showcasing development at the position. West Virginia’s defense ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and tied for No. 19 in Power Five in sacks (33). The defense produced 84 tackles for loss (6.5 per game), ranking No. 2 in the Big 12 and tied for No. 14 among Power 5 schools. The defensive line was responsible for 16 sacks and 37 tackles for loss.

In 2022, fifth-year defensive tackle Dante Stills finished as the school’s all-time leader in games played (59) and tackles for loss  (52½) and was fourth in sacks (23½). He finished his career earning All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors twice (2021, 2022), second team twice (2019, 2020), earning a spot in the 2023 NFL Combine and being drafted in the sixth round by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

The defense finished No. 4 in the Big 12 in rushing defense, and over the past two seasons, posted 53 sacks, finishing in the top five of the league. Defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson also earned third team honors by Phil Steele.

Jackson came to Morgantown after serving as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for defense at Old Dominion in 2020.

He joined the ODU staff after spending the 2019 season at James Madison as the defensive tackles coach. While at JMU, the Dukes led the FCS in total defense and were third in scoring defense. Defensive tackle Mike Greene led the Colonial Athletic Association in sacks by an interior lineman and was all-conference.

Jackson was the defensive quality control coach at Mississippi State in 2018, where he helped the Bulldogs to an 8-5 record and berth in the Outback Bowl. MSU ranked in the top 10 nationally in eight defensive categories, including a No. 1 ranking in total defense (263.1). Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat were All-SEC.

In 2017, Jackson coached the defensive line at Fordham. He was responsible for game planning the run game, pass protection and third-down blitz packages and prepared the opponent scouting report for the defense.

Prior to that, Jackson was a graduate assistant with the defensive line for two years at Penn State. Two players he worked with earned national attention, All-American Carl Nassib and consensus All-American Anthony Zettel. Nassib was the Big Ten’s Bronko Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and was the Hendricks Award and Lombardi Award winner.