# Jackson Kuwatch
**Jackson Kuwatch** (born 2003) is an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) linebacker for the [Carolina Panthers](https://www.edgepedia.org/carolina-panthers) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) (NFL). He was selected by the Panthers in the seventh round, 227th overall, of the 2026 NFL Draft after playing college football at Ohio State and Miami (Ohio).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position, team, number | Linebacker, Carolina Panthers, #46; rookie experience, active roster[1](https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/jackson-kuwatch/) |
| Born | 2003, Cincinnati, Ohio[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KuwaJa00.htm) |
| Physical | 6 ft 4 in, 234 lbs[1](https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/jackson-kuwatch/) |
| Draft | 7th round, 227th overall, 2026 NFL Draft, by Carolina (pick acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins)[1](https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/jackson-kuwatch/) |
| College | Ohio State 2021–2022; Miami (OH) RedHawks 2023–2025[3](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jackson-kuwatch/145075) |
| Best college season | 2025: 109 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks in 14 starts; Third-Team All-MAC[4](https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/10340) |
| 2026 NFL season | 4 games, 18 defensive snaps, 0 solo tackles, 1 total pressure[3](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jackson-kuwatch/145075) |
## Early life and high school
Kuwatch is from [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati), Ohio, and graduated from Lakota West High School, where he was coached by Tom Bolden. As a senior he recorded 53 tackles and two sacks, was named first-team All-Ohio, First-Team All-GMC, and the Southwest Ohio Defensive Player of the Year, and led the Firebirds to the Division I regional finals in 2020.[4](https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/10340) He was lightly recruited coming out of high school.[5](https://miamiredhawks.com/news/2026/4/29/football-jacksons-journey-kuwatch-ready-to-take-next-step-with-carolina-panthers)
## College career
**Ohio State.** Kuwalk joined the [Ohio State Buckeyes](https://www.edgepedia.org/ohio-state-buckeyes) as an invited walk-on in June 2021 and spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the program.[6](https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/4830) Miami's athletics bio states that he did not see action with the Buckeyes,[4](https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/10340) while Sports-[Reference](https://www.edgepedia.org/reference) records 3 games played with no statistics in 2022.[7](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jackson-kuwatch-1.html)
**Miami (Ohio).** He transferred to [Miami University](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-university) in 2023 and played three seasons for the RedHawks. In 2023 he saw action in 10 games and finished with five tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss, including a special-teams tackle for loss in a win at Kent State. In 2024 he played 10 games, recorded nine tackles with a career-best five at Notre Dame, and was named Academic All-MAC.[4](https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/10340)
His 2025 season was his breakout year. Playing and starting all 14 games, he finished with 109 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks, and earned Third-Team All-MAC honors. He set a career high with 14 tackles against Western Michigan in the MAC Title Game, had 11 tackles and 1.0 sack against Rutgers, and posted sacks against Buffalo and Ball State.[4](https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/10340) His 109 tackles ranked second on the team and sixth in the conference, and his five sacks were second on the roster and tied for 11th in the MAC.[5](https://miamiredhawks.com/news/2026/4/29/football-jacksons-journey-kuwatch-ready-to-take-next-step-with-carolina-panthers) He closed his Miami career in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl against Fresno State on December 27, 2025.[8](https://www.hogshaven.com/washington-commanders-draft/408913/linebackers-the-washington-commanders-should-consider-in-the-2026-nfl-draft-class)
## 2026 NFL Draft
The Panthers selected Kuwatch with the 227th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the final pick of a seven-man class that also included tackle [Monroe Freeling](https://www.edgepedia.org/monroe-freeling), defensive tackle Lee Hunter, wide receiver [Chris Brazzell II](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-brazzell-ii), cornerback [Will Lee III](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-lee-iii), center Sam Hecht, and safety Zakee Wheatley. The pick was acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, and the team described Kuwatch as a linebacker with special teams skills.[9](https://www.panthers.com/news/with-the-227th-overall-pick-the-panthers-take-linebacker-jackson-kuwatch)
His draft measurables included a 4.67-second 40-yard dash, 30.5-inch arms, and a relative athletic score (RAS) of 8.84. In 2025 he posted 45 defensive stops, a 10.4 percent run stop rate, and a 13.7 percent pass-rush pressure rate, and he drew pre-draft interest including meetings with the [Washington Commanders](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-commanders) and a Top 30 visit with the [Indianapolis Colts](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-colts).[8](https://www.hogshaven.com/washington-commanders-draft/408913/linebackers-the-washington-commanders-should-consider-in-the-2026-nfl-draft-class) CBS Sports noted that he served as Miami's middle linebacker and that his special teams experience across a five-year college career could help him earn a spot on the Panthers' 53-man roster.[10](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/26702519/jackson-kuwatch/)
## NFL career
Kuwatch appeared in 4 games for Carolina in the 2026 season, playing 18 defensive snaps (5 run defense, 3 pass rush, and 10 coverage) without recording a tackle. He generated 1 total pressure as a blitzer, was charged with 0 missed tackles, and allowed a 0.0 passer rating when targeted in coverage. [Pro Football Focus](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-focus) graded him at 54.6 overall, with a 58.7 run-defense grade, a 69.9 pass-rush grade, and a 50.3 coverage grade; because he did not reach the playing-time threshold, he received no positional ranking.[3](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jackson-kuwatch/145075) In the 2026 preseason he recorded 14 total tackles across four games, including 5 in the opener against the [Arizona Cardinals](https://www.edgepedia.org/arizona-cardinals).[11](https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/jackson-kuwatch/logs/)
## References
1. [Jackson Kuwatch, Carolina Panthers player roster page](https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/jackson-kuwatch/)
2. [Jackson Kuwatch, Pro-Football-Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KuwaJa00.htm)
3. [Jackson Kuwatch, PFF NFL player page](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jackson-kuwatch/145075)
4. [Jackson Kuwatch, Miami University RedHawks football roster](https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/10340)
5. [Jackson's Journey: Kuwatch Ready to Take Next Step With Carolina Panthers, Miami University RedHawks](https://miamiredhawks.com/news/2026/4/29/football-jacksons-journey-kuwatch-ready-to-take-next-step-with-carolina-panthers)
6. [Jackson Kuwatch, Ohio State Buckeyes 2022-23 football roster](https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/football/roster/jackson-kuwatch/4830)
7. [Jackson Kuwatch college stats, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jackson-kuwatch-1.html)
8. [Linebackers the Commanders Should Consider in the 2026 Draft Class, Hogs Haven](https://www.hogshaven.com/washington-commanders-draft/408913/linebackers-the-washington-commanders-should-consider-in-the-2026-nfl-draft-class)
9. [With the 227th overall pick, the Panthers take linebacker Jackson Kuwatch, Panthers.com](https://www.panthers.com/news/with-the-227th-overall-pick-the-panthers-take-linebacker-jackson-kuwatch)
10. [Jackson Kuwatch, CBS Sports player page](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/26702519/jackson-kuwatch/)
11. [Jackson Kuwatch game logs, Panthers.com](https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/jackson-kuwatch/logs/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Linebackers › Active professional linebackers › NFC linebackers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license