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Jackson to Defend UFL Championship Saturday
6/12/2026 9:33:00 AM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Former Duke running back Deon Jackson and the DC Defenders are one win away from becoming back-to-back UFL champions. Jackson and the Defenders will take on the Louisville Kings at 3 p.m. Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The game will be broadcast on ABC.Â
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In 10 regular season games this season, Jackson has 91 carries for a league-high 449 yards (4.93) and a UFL-best seven rushing touchdowns. He added 12 receptions for 84 yards (7.00). The Atlanta product scored the game's first touchdown in the semifinals, helping the Defenders to a 28-22 victory against the Orlando Storm. Jackson finished the semifinals with 12 carries for 33 yards and a score.Â
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Jackson spent the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He appeared in 29 games with three starts, all with the Colts. He totaled 95 carries for 283 yards (2.98) and two TDs while adding 35 receptions for 223 yards (6.37) and a score. He had 42 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards and one touchdown in his first start, October 16, 2022.
Jackson helped the Defenders to the 2025 UFL championship as he tallied 83 carries for 417 yards (5.02) and four touchdowns during hte regular season. In two postseason games, he carried 32 times for 156 yards (4.88) and four scores.Â
As a Blue Devil, Jackson played in 48 games with 31 starts and rushed 526 times for 2,267 yards (4.31) with 18 TDs. He added 61 receptions for 534 yards (8.75) and four scores. He established the Duke single-game record with 403 all-purpose yards (162 rushing, 89 receiving and 152 kickoff return) at Pittsburgh in 2018 while becoming just the third player in ACC history to reach the 400 all-purpose yardage plateau (Clemson's Tobias Palmer; 496 vs. N.C. State in 2012 and Wake Forest's John Leach; 411 vs. Maryland in 1993). When his Duke career ended, Jackson was ranked sixth on the program's career rushing and rushing attempts chart.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
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In 10 regular season games this season, Jackson has 91 carries for a league-high 449 yards (4.93) and a UFL-best seven rushing touchdowns. He added 12 receptions for 84 yards (7.00). The Atlanta product scored the game's first touchdown in the semifinals, helping the Defenders to a 28-22 victory against the Orlando Storm. Jackson finished the semifinals with 12 carries for 33 yards and a score.Â
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TOUCHDOWN @UFLDefenders??
— United Football League (@TheUFL) June 7, 2026
DC gets on the board first in Daytona ?? pic.twitter.com/0Z066hG9Ny
Jackson spent the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He appeared in 29 games with three starts, all with the Colts. He totaled 95 carries for 283 yards (2.98) and two TDs while adding 35 receptions for 223 yards (6.37) and a score. He had 42 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards and one touchdown in his first start, October 16, 2022.
Jackson helped the Defenders to the 2025 UFL championship as he tallied 83 carries for 417 yards (5.02) and four touchdowns during hte regular season. In two postseason games, he carried 32 times for 156 yards (4.88) and four scores.Â
As a Blue Devil, Jackson played in 48 games with 31 starts and rushed 526 times for 2,267 yards (4.31) with 18 TDs. He added 61 receptions for 534 yards (8.75) and four scores. He established the Duke single-game record with 403 all-purpose yards (162 rushing, 89 receiving and 152 kickoff return) at Pittsburgh in 2018 while becoming just the third player in ACC history to reach the 400 all-purpose yardage plateau (Clemson's Tobias Palmer; 496 vs. N.C. State in 2012 and Wake Forest's John Leach; 411 vs. Maryland in 1993). When his Duke career ended, Jackson was ranked sixth on the program's career rushing and rushing attempts chart.
For more information on Duke Football, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeFOOTBALL".
#GoDuke
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