Jackson was named to the South squad for the West Coast League All-Star Game, and was scheduled to be the starting pitcher, but did not play because the game was rained out.

A sophomore at Portland, Jackson was 3-3, 5.30 in 16 games, with 25 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. He was nominated for West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for Feb. 10-16, but was not selected.

He was 1-0, 1.77 in 16 games (three starts) as a freshman at UP in 2013, with 24 strikeouts and only five walks in 35.2 innings. He then played for the WCL's Klamath Falls Gems and was 2-2, 4.67 in 12 games, with 25 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.  

Jackson was a four-year letterwinner at Broomfield HS and helped lead the Eagles win the state championship by going 10-2 as a pitcher and hitting .484 with 16 doubles, three home runs and 23 RBIs. He was all-state, all-region and all-conference honors as a senior. As a junior, he led the team with a .456 average and three home runs and was 2-0 with a save and 15 strikeouts in 10 innings.