Unexpected farewell: Miami beginning DT Darrell Jackson getting into switch portal

Few noticed this one coming.

The man who turned the University of Miami’s 11 switch heading into 2022, and a useful one at that, has introduced he “will be entering the transfer portal.’’

Starting defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, the 6-foot-6, 328-pound long-armed bulldozer who started opposite Leonard Taylor and racked up 27 tackles, 4 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks, posted Monday night a brief but to-the-point message on Twitter.

“First off I will like to start by saying thank you Coach Cristobal, Coach Strong, Coach Stroud, Coach Rod and Coach Taylor for the love and support at the University of Miami,’’ Jackson wrote. “After praying and talking to family about this situation I am happy to announce that I will be entering the transfer portal.’’

Several Hurricanes have entered the transfer portal, which officially opened on Monday, but Jackson’s loss is especially significant.

Jackson, out of Gadsen County High in the Florida panhandle, is from the tiny town of Havana, about 15 miles northwest of Tallahassee. He left Maryland after his freshman season and chose UM over the Gators, Florida State and Tennessee.

“I love stopping the run,’’ Jackson said in October. “I take pride in that.’’

UM coach Mario Cristobal said back then that Jackson was a “lean 328 pounds” and that “his best football is ahead of him.”

“He is an absolute pleasure to be round on a regular basis as a result of he likes to apply,’’ the coach stated. “He likes to work. He’s obtained an amazing character about him, no process is simply too small for him. There isn’t any ego there. You can push him and he responds effectively… He is precisely what you need in a program.’’