Jackson Bailey, a former football player for Prairie View A&M, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by the university’s athletic department on Tuesday. The cause of the 22-year-old’s death remains undisclosed. Bailey was part of the university’s football team for the 2023 season, although he did not participate in any official games for the Texas-based institution.
The university expressed its profound condolences to Bailey’s family, friends, teammates, and fraternity brothers in a statement. Known as ‘Jacks’ to his peers, Bailey was a beloved member of the Panther football program and the wider PVAMU community. Despite not playing in any official games, his vibrant energy and presence were deeply felt within the team’s locker room and across the campus.
Bailey was also a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. – Zeta Beta Chapter, where he embodied the values of brotherhood, resilience, and purpose. He chose Prairie View A&M to be closer to his family, and in doing so, became an integral part of the campus community. His brief time at PVAMU left a lasting impact that will be remembered for years to come.
Bailey’s family also shared their grief on social media. They described him as a loving son, brother, teammate, and friend whose presence was a gift to everyone who knew him. They requested for thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
Before joining Prairie View A&M, the Red Oak, Texas native began his college football career at Arizona. He entered his freshman year as a three-star linebacker recruit and redshirted the 2021 season before transferring to Louisiana-Monroe. During the 2022 season, he played nine games, recording 14 total tackles and one quarterback hurry.
In high school, Bailey was a standout player. During his junior year, he led the Red Oak Hawks to the regional finals of the Texas 5A D2 State Playoffs with 60 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries. His senior year saw him record 57 total tackles, four for loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, helping his school advance to the quarterfinals of the Texas 5A D1 State Playoffs.