JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The sounds of the “Sheriff” echo across the Raines High School football field.
On it, you’ll find senior defensive back Shareef Jackson patrolling the secondary with the same intensity that earned him his nickname.
The moniker originated from his mother, but it wasn’t until his freshman year that it truly took hold. He said his defensive coordinator struggled with his name, repeatedly calling out “sheriff.”
Jackson embraced the identity. By his sophomore year, as he claimed his starting role, the nickname became a warning to opponents.
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“In 10th grade, I took over the island and told people you throw at the sheriff, it’s gonna be a bad night,” Jackson said.
For Raines’ head coach, Donovan Masline, who bestowed Jackson as a freshman with the same No. 32 he wore as a player, the nickname embodies everything the senior brings to the field.
Masline said Jackson’s energy, competitive spirit, and ability to back up his confident talk have made him the defensive anchor of the Vikings’ secondary.
“He controls a lot of things out here. It goes through him to be the top dog,” Masline says.
At practice, his voice is present. Jackson can be heard coaching up his teammates and, of course, talking trash.
His vocal presence at practice serves a strategic purpose, preparing his teammates for the intensity of playoff competition. His trash talk isn’t just bravado – it’s a teaching tool, one he hopes will build mental toughness for crucial moments.
Football at Raines isn’t just a sport for Jackson; it’s a family tradition.
His mother walked these same halls, his sister competed as a dancer, and his brother Shemar achieved what Shareef now chases: a state championship with the Vikings in 2017.
That family legacy, particularly his brother’s success, lit a fire in Jackson that still burns today.
“That motivated me,” he said. “My brother can do it, I know I can do it.”
After a junior year spent at Mandarin High School, Jackson returned to Raines, drawn back by something deeper than tradition. His father, Shawn, who passed away in 2012, remains a powerful presence in his life.
After practice, Jackson often visits his father’s nearby resting place, continuing conversations that drive him forward.
“When I’m on the field running at somebody with blood in my eyes, it’s him through me,” Jackson said.
The void left by his father’s passing has been filled, in part, by the extraordinary strength of his mother. Raising six children on her own, Jackson said she is at every game, never hesitates to drive to camps or tournaments, and never lets distance stand in the way of her son’s dreams.
Jackson said he sends text messages of love and gratitude, small reminders of the motivation behind every play.
Recently, Jackson reached a career milestone when he committed to Mercer University.
However, his story is far from finished.
His phone holds a checklist with a few crucial boxes still unticked, none more important than a state championship.
“It’s gonna be a lot of tears poured out,” Jackson said. “None of us were superstars as babies, so for us to win a championship, it’s gonna be something special. It’s gonna be something that I feel the community needs.”
In these final games of his high school career, Jackson carries more than just his team’s defensive hopes. He carries his mother’s sacrifice, his brother’s legacy, and his father’s memory. Every time he steps onto the field, he knows his biggest fans are watching.
“God, he’s always in our presence,” Jackson says. “He’s letting me know that my father is at the gates, smiling at me, screaming my name, ‘Shareef go, go, go, go.’ I’m just really blessed and thankful.”