Shedrick Jackson

Shedrick Jackson (born October 20, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn and was signed by the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Early life
Jackson was born on October 20, 1999, in Hoover, Alabama. He is the great-nephew of Heisman Trophy winner, National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) player Bo Jackson. He attended Hoover High School in his hometown. As a sophomore in 2015, he caught 20 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns while helping them reach the Class 7A state semifinals.

The following year, he had 43 receptions for 661 yards and three touchdowns as Hoover won the class championship. Prior to his senior year in 2017, Jackson committed to play college football for the Auburn Tigers, the same school his great-uncle attended. On3.com ranked him a four-star recruit and the 343rd-best player nationally, while 247Sports ranked him three-stars and 392nd in the nation. He ended his senior year with 48 receptions for 979 yards and nine touchdowns while helping Hoover repeat as class champions. He was invited to the Alabama–Mississippi All-Star Game.

College career
As a true freshman at Auburn in 2018, Jackson appeared in two games and totaled two receptions for 15 yards. In 2019, he played nine games and started five, having two receptions for 31 yards and scoring a two-point conversion. He had six receptions for 84 yards in 2020 while also being selected to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Academic Honor Roll. After having caught just 10 passes for 130 yards in his first three years, Jackson had a breakout season in 2021, being Auburn's second-leading receiver with 40 catches for 527 yards and a touchdown; his touchdown was described as "arguably the Tigers' most important touchdown of the season," as it was a game-winning score on fourth-and-goal in the final minute against Georgia State. He returned for a final season in 2022, after having been given another year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He recorded 16 receptions for 217 yards in 2022. He ended his collegiate career with 66 catches for 874 yards and a touchdown.

Professional career
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, he was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He was released at the final roster cuts, on August 29, and then was re-signed to the practice squad the next day.

Jackson was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 10 game against the Houston Texans and made his NFL debut in the 30–27 loss, recording one tackle on special teams. Following the end of the 2023 regular season, the Bengals signed him to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.