Syracuse WR Jackson Meeks signs with Detroit Lions
Jackson Meeks broke out last season in his only year with Syracuse, becoming just the first SU player to reach 1,000 receiving yards since 2019. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Syracuse wide receiver Jackson Meeks has signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent. Meeks led SU with 1,021 receiving yards in his lone season with the Orange, becoming the first player since Trishton Jackson in 2019 to cross the 1,000 receiving yards threshold.
Meeks is one of eight Syracuse players to be drafted or sign with an NFL team this offseason. If he makes the Lions’ roster, he’d become just the second SU wide receiver currently in the league, joining Jackson, who’s on the Arizona Cardinals.
The wide receiver didn’t receive an NFL Combine invite despite 48 others at his position attending but shined at the East-West Shrine Bowl in late January. Meeks snagged multiple receptions, including a strong catch along the sidelines, and met with all 32 NFL teams throughout the week.
At SU’s Pro Day on March 17, he participated in all drills and ran what he told the media was a 40-yard dash in the 4.56-4.65 range. His three-cone drill came in at 6.79 seconds, and his vertical jump measured 34.5 inches.
He said he spoke with the “up-north teams” but specifically pointed out the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons, saying he heard a range from a day two pick to being signed as an undrafted free agent.
“I’m gonna do what I have to do to make the team,” Meeks said. “Whether that’s wait for two years behind the vet and learn from the vet as much as I can. I’m gonna do that.”
Meeks transferred with Fran Brown to Syracuse from Georgia after three years of sparse playing time. He appeared largely on the special teams unit with the Bulldogs, notching just 10 receptions and no touchdowns.
After coming to the Orange, Meeks broke out to lead SU’s receiving unit alongside Trebor Peña. His first big game came versus Holy Cross, where the Phenix City, Alabama, native recorded 10 receptions for 161 yards. His touchdown against the Crusaders marked the second of four straight games finding the end zone.
Against NC State, he continued his production with 11 receptions for 116 yards. Meeks became a key target for Kyle McCord as he climbed to the Atlantic Coast Conference single-season passing yards record. Meeks totaled four or more receptions in the last 10 contests and 100 or more receiving yards in four of the last five games.
In SU’s final game versus then-No. 8 Miami, Meeks scored twice, helping beat the Hurricanes in a shootout for Syracuse’s first top-10 win since 2017. To cap his season, Meeks caught five passes for 110 yards in the Holiday Bowl, eclipsing the 1,000-receiving-yard mark and finishing with 78 receptions and seven touchdowns.
