By Rubin E. Grant
Will Jackson received his cherry on top.
First, Jackson signed a soccer scholarship with Wake Forest, becoming the first Homewood High School boys soccer player to sign with an Atlantic Coast Conference school.
Next, he led Homewood to the Class 6A state championship in the spring, scoring two goals in the Patriots’ 3-1 victory against Spanish Fort in the championship game to earn tournament MVP honors.
Finally, in June, Jackson was named the Gatorade 2024 Alabama Boys Soccer Player of the Year, becoming the first such honoree chosen from Homewood.
The award celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
“I’m super honored,” Jackson said. “I thought it was the best season in my three years at Homewood High School. It’s great to see the work I put in myself and with the team come to fruition with such an awesome award.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting this since my sophomore year and to finally have it is great, especially coming in my favorite season. It’s the perfect ending, the cherry on top.”
During his senior season, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound midfielder/forward scored 26 goals and recorded 21 assists while leading the Patriots to a 23-2-3 record. He was selected Class 6A first team all-state and as a member of the Super All-State team. He concluded his prep soccer career with 63 goals and 37 assists.
Briarwood coach Mike Bautista said Jackson was creative when he got the ball.
“He was smart in where he attacked, roaming to find a better angle to be more dangerous. Will has been pivotal for Homewood for years and is vital to their success.”
Jackson, whose dad, Todd Jackson, played at Furman University, joined the Homewood soccer team as a sophomore. He spent his freshman year playing in the MLS Next youth soccer program in Nashville.
Homewood coach Julian Kersh described Jackson as a highly skilled player.
“He’s got a talent level that you only expect to see come through a program a couple of times,” Kersh said. “Everything seems to come so naturally to him. He can do incredible things with the ball.”
Jackson’s talent extends beyond the soccer field. A long-time pianist and an accomplished creative writer, Jackson has volunteered locally as a youth mentor. He also has donated time to multiple community service initiatives through Trinity United Methodist Church, which he attends. In the classroom, Jackson maintained a weighted 4.02 GPA.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track and field. It awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.
The Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Jackson joins recent Gatorade state boys soccer Players of the Year Cristian Barrientos (2023, Fort Payne), Jack Heaps (2022, Mountain Brook), Jackson Nabors (2021, Indian Springs) and Tony Shaw (2020, Vestavia Hills).
