What facing his former team means for Auburn WR Sam Jackson V (2024)

Sam Jackson V sat back in his chair and smiled.

When speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the first thing Jackson was asked was how he’d celebrate if he scored against Cal, his former school, on Saturday.

"We might get a flag for this, so I probably won’t do it,” Jackson said with a grin.

“I was talking to one of my teammates about it: get the ball, sign it and then go hand it to the head coach,” Jackson continued jokingly. “I’ll definitely get a penalty and Coach Nix and Coach Hugh Freeze will go crazy.”

All jokes aside, Jackson admitted that the game against his former team means a little more to him. The junior receiver spent the 2023 season at Cal and was the Golden Bears’ quarterback for most of last season’s Auburn-Cal matchup.

One thing Jackson remembered from that game was the atmosphere, specifically the atmosphere created by the traveling Auburn fans.

“It was crazy to me, Jackson said. "I came out, and it was like an orange-out.”

When asked if he expected the same turn out from Cal fans in Auburn, Jackson swiftly said no.

While there wasn’t much for either set of fans to cheer about most of the game, the Auburn fans got to make the long journey back home happy.

Jackson was Cal’s leading passer in that game, despite Auburn earning the win. But there would only be two more games the rest of the season where Jackson led the team in passing yards.

It was an up and down season both for him and the team overall. Cal finished the season 6-7 and Jackson was in a constant battle for snaps at quarterback with Ben Finley and 2024 starter Fernando Mendoza.

Following the season, Jackson entered the transfer portal, moving across the country and going back wide receiver, a position he hadn’t played since high school.

"I got an opportunity to do something bigger and be a part of something bigger than myself at Auburn,” Jackson said. “Honestly it was kind of like bittersweet.”

The hardest thing about leaving Cal, was leaving his teammates, Jackson said. And even when preparing to play against, his former teammates still enjoy watching him play.

“He got a really nice touchdown over two defenders. And at that moment, I was like, ‘My guy Sam, let’s go,’” Mendoza said Tuesday. “I hope he does well in his own accord on Saturday. Sam’s a great guy and I’m rooting for him.”

Now, facing his former school, Jackson wasn’t afraid to admit that the game means more to him, but he also understands that for the team, it’s just another game.

It’s a game that serves as an opportunity for the offense to further prove its improvement. Jackson was one of the many players Auburn brought in to improve the offense, and the game is a chance for him to further prove himself as a wide receiver.

Jackson’s familiarity with Cal is a factor both teams are aware of. For Auburn, his knowledge of the opposition could help the team gameplan.

“I may talk to him,” Freeze said during his Monday press conference. “Probably our defensive guys will talk to him more than I would.”

For Cal, it puts him under a microscope, not allowing him to get lost in the defensive gameplan when preparing for Auburn’s various dynamic receivers.

“We all know Sam is a fantastic athlete,” Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon said Tuesday. “There’s a lot of players on that team we need to be concerned about, we’re probably just a little more aware of Sam because of the familiarity.”

Sirmon’s unit is one that Jackson knows well from his time competing against them in practice. And with the offensive weapons Auburn has, the familiarity gives helps him confidence.

“They’re going to play hard, they’re going to be in the right positions,” Jackson said. “I just don’t think their guys are going to match up with our guys.”

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com