Former University of Alabama cornerback Khyree Jackson was among the victims of a Saturday morning car accident that claimed the lives of three men, Maryland police announced. Jackson was 24 years old.
The crash occurred in Prince George’s County, Maryland, which encompasses Jackson’s hometown of Upper Marlboro. According to a police department news release, Jackson was traveling in a Dodge Charger with Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr., two of his high school football teammates. At 3:14 AM, an Infiniti Q50 “attempted to change lanes at a high speed” and struck the Charger, causing it to “[travel] off of the right side of the roadway and [strike] multiple tree stumps.”
Hazel and Jackson were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Lytton was transported to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, where he was also pronounced dead. No one else was injured in the crash.
According to a statement released by investigators, alcohol “may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash.”
Jackson graduated high school in 2017 and attended Arizona Western College to play football, but quickly returned to Maryland after feeling homesick.
“When I ended up leaving my first junior college, I was home for about six months, but I told my friends that I was still in school,” he told reporters in April. “I stayed at my house for six straight months and nobody knew. It was kind of eating away at me, and then I finally just eventually told my friends. That moment really told me, like, man, if I was embarrassed to even tell them, I might want to get out and try to do it again instead of sitting here and sulking.”
After taking several seasons away from football, working at Harris Teeter and Chipotle, and spending time at two other junior colleges, Jackson landed at Alabama in 2021. He recorded 11 tackles during his time in Tuscaloosa and started in the 2021 National Championship against Georgia.
Jackson transferred to Oregon in 2023, where he enjoyed the best season of his career. The Minnesota Vikings selected Jackson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the Vikings stated. “While we work to gather more information, we have spoken to Khyree’s family and offered the support of the Minnesota Vikings. We have also communicated the news to Vikings players, coaches and staff and have offered counseling for those who need emotional support. Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
“Alabama mourns the loss of former student-athlete Khyree Jackson,” wrote the Alabama football team in a statement posted to social media. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Alabama mourns the loss of former student-athlete Khyree Jackson. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/eHeZGFpqHb
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) July 6, 2024
Several current and former teammates took to social media to honor Jackson’s memory.
“Too much ahead of him,” Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy posted on Instagram. “Rest in peace to a phenomenal athlete but more importantly a really f*ckin great man. See you in the next life fam.”
“The journey it took for you to get to where you was at and you really accomplished your goals of making it to the NFL, you really looked out for me,” wrote former Alabama CB Terrion Arnold. “A true brother and all you wanted to do was see me succeed and vice versa always love slim ❤️.”
The journey it took for you to get to where you was at and you really accomplished your goals of making it to the NFL, you really looked out for me. A true brother and all you wanted to do was see me succeed and vice versa always love slim❤️ pic.twitter.com/b3BNZoZB5A
— Terrion Arnold (@ArnoldTerrion) July 6, 2024
“I ain’t shed a tear in a min this one hurt,” wrote former Alabama safety Brian Branch.
I ain’t shed a tear in a min this one hurt
— Alpha🐕 (@BrianBB_1) July 6, 2024
“Bro no way bro 💔,” wrote former Alabama receiver Traeshon Holden, who was also Jackson’s teammate at Oregon.
Bro no way bro 💔
— Traeshon Holden (@Traeski11) July 6, 2024
“Life ain’t fair 😪 get your rest brother… gone too soon reeski🙏🏽,” wrote current Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore.
Life ain’t fair 😪get your rest brother… gone too soon reeski🙏🏽
— Kinggchi👑 (@malachi_moore13) July 6, 2024
Charles Vaughan is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News.
