As Jonah Jackson worked his way through the scarlet and white receiving line once the clock hit zeroes, it became clear.
He’s still a Rutgers football player, and a graduate of the university. He’s just studying abroad - worlds away, really - for a year.
The former Scarlet Knights captain and right guard returned to Piscataway on Saturday, 10 months after his decision to enter the transfer portal rocked the Rutgers program. Jackson helped his new team, No. 2-ranked Ohio State, roll to a 56-21 win, then greeted a wave of his former teammates and still friends with smiles and hugs.
“It wasn’t tough. It’s mandatory to come here for the game," Jackson said on the field at SHI Stadium about a half-hour after the contest ended. “But there was definitely emotion for sure. This is somewhere I put a lot of time into, was at for four years and graduated college from. That’s a pretty big thing.”
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As was Jackson’s stunning departure from the Scarlet Knights as a graduate transfer in January along with teammates Max Anthony and Nakia Griffin-Stewart. In hindsight, it was a clear sign the Chris Ash era at Rutgers was hurtling toward an ugly conclusion.
The transfer portal gives and takes with every program these days, and Anthony and Griffin-Stewart were role players (albeit valuable ones). But Jackson’s exit was a major blow, no matter what some close to the program tried to claim at the time. He was a team captain and the best lineman on a unit that was already struggling and has not improved since.
But that was then. Ash is gone now, and Rutgers has hope for the future as everyone anticipates and hopes for Greg Schiano’s return. Jackson is a starter for a 10-0 Buckeyes team - he won 11 games here in four years - that is arguably the nation’s best squad. And if there were ever any hard feelings between him and the players he left behind, they have dissipated.
“It was cool seeing him. We came in together here, we’ve we experienced a lot of things together, a lot of hardships," Rutgers left guard Zach Venesky, now a captain himself, said. “I consider him a brother. It’s cool seeing him have success.”
Added Jackson: “It was awesome. I basically grew up here for four years of my adult life. To be able to see the guys I grew up with, the coaches and the staff, it was a great experience. Once the season is over and everything, I’m definitely excited to come back here, pay them a visit and see my brothers.
“It’s not something you wish upon any team (Rutgers’ struggles). But being in the position I am now, I’m just blessed. I can’t thank God enough."
How can Rutgers begin to claw toward a similar position?
“They’ve got the talent. They’ve got everything they need," Jackson said. "It’s just a matter of putting it all together and being able to execute on Saturday and win the game.”
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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.