Former Oregon cornerback and Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson died in an automobile accident in Maryland early Saturday morning.
Jackson, 24, was killed along with former Dr. Henry Wise Jr. High School teammates Anthony Lytton Jr. and Isaiah Hazel. Lytton played at Florida State and Penn State and Hazel played at Maryland and Charlotte.
“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the Vikings said in a statement. “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.”
Maryland State Police say they are investigating the fatal accident, which occurred in Prince George’s County shortly after 3:14 a.m. ET. Police say their preliminary investigation shows an Infinity Q50 driven by Cori Clingman was traveling northbound on Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue and they believe she attempted to change lanes “while driving at a high rate of speed” when she hit a Dodge Charger driven by Hazel with Jackson in the passenger seat and Lytton in the back seat, as well as a Chevrolet Impala.
The Charger went off the road and “struck multiple tree stumps where the vehicle came to rest,” according top police, who said Hazel and Jackson were pronounced deceased on the scene and Lytton was transported to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, where he later was pronounced deceased.
Clingman and two passengers in her vehicle were not injured and the driver of the Impala was not injured, according to police, who said they “believe alcohol may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash” and charges are pending.
Jackson, who had the best season of his career while at Oregon, was drafted by the Vikings with the No. 108 overall pick in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft. He had the best season of his career in 2023, making 34 tackles (five for loss), including two sacks, seven pass breakups and three interceptions as the top cornerback for the Ducks.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news. Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
Jackson’s college career at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, followed by East Mississippi CC, Alabama, and Oregon. He briefly stopped playing football between his junior college stops and worked at a grocery store while competitive gaming before returning to the field.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree. As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Khyree wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him. Khyree’s personality captured every room he was in. I’m devastated that his life and everything he had in front of him has been cut short. My thoughts are with Khyree’s family and friends, those who played with and coached him in college, and his teammates and coaches here at the Vikings.”
After being drafted he credited Dan Lanning for his success because the UO coach “trusted in my abilities, but also understood who he had in a player.”
“I don’t really talk much off the field; I’m more laid back and chill off the field,” Jackson said in April. “But when I’m in practice or in the games, I’m just an animal on the field. Like I don’t really have too many friends. I just want to demolish everybody who’s in front of me. That’s how I look at it when I’m on the field.
“Having somebody who understands and really knew how to decipher who I was. I think it just made me play so much comfortably this year. There was a couple of times coach Lanning let me know like, ‘hey, I’m going to let you play your game, make sure you don’t get no flags though.’ I just made sure I upheld that and that was just our relationship.”
Penn State mourned the loss of Lytton, who played cornerback for the Nittany Lions in 2021 and played for Florida State in 2018-19, and Maryland and Charlotte coach Biff Poggi mourned Hazel, who finished his college career last season with the 49ers after four years with the Terrapins.