It’s not even technically September yet, and we’ve already got a Catch of the Year candidate for college football this season.
It’s all thanks to Minnesota wide receiver Daniel Jackson as his team trailed late in its home game against Nebraska on Thursday night.
On a 4th-and-10 play in the red zone late in the fourth quarter, Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis fired a long ball to the corner of the end zone for Jackson, who improbably came up with the catch by properly dragging his toes right as he caught it at the barrier of the out-of-bounds line.
Once the referee signaled it a touchdown, it gave Jackson one of the definitive highlights of the college football season and sent Minnesota fans into a frenzy for the dramatic catch-and-score.
TOUCHDOWN MINNESOTA 😱
On 4&10 Daniel Jackson comes up with a HUGE catch for @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/84QofhnsEe
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 1, 2023
THE TOE TAP BY DANIEL JACKSON 😱🔥@GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/WjFWkKDW32
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 1, 2023
The touchdown helped lead to an eventual walk-off field goal that gave Minnesota the victory.
KESICH CALLS GAME 🙌@GopherFootball WINS IT IN THE FINAL SECONDS 😱 pic.twitter.com/mg9U8lVfZi
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 1, 2023
What a night for Golden Gophers fans!
Back to the catch: It’s a genuine shock that Jackson was able to catch this and somehow keep his feet in bounds. How did he do this?!
If you’re like us, you’re going to be rewatching and rewatching this incredible catch for the next few days, trying to figure out just how Jackson pulled this off. It’s truly a stunning highlight for the Minnesota wide receiver.
CFB fans were stunned by Jackson's catch.
That call by the official in real time was just as good as the catch. I thought there was a 0% chance he got a foot down. #Gophers #CFBonFOX https://t.co/U2r7hR5QVj
— Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) September 1, 2023
The catch of the year just happened in week one https://t.co/4ITdXL0BqX
— Brian Rives (@BrianRives) September 1, 2023
Absolutely incredible catch, and we are tied. https://t.co/X6aX5pzdN6
— BiggerTen (@BiggerTen) September 1, 2023
How in the world did Daniel Jackson catch this pass!?!? What a catch!!! https://t.co/WOBoGVHi70
— Jeffrey @ Only Talk Sports (@OnlyTalkSports) September 1, 2023
This is the greatest catch i’ve ever seen.
WATCH THIS NOW https://t.co/DNezSJzoek
— Ethan Zaretsky (@EthanTDAY) September 1, 2023
As good a catch as you’ll see all season https://t.co/91bvGCdSOB
— Joshua Simelton (@JSimeOnSports) September 1, 2023
College football is so exquisitely back. https://t.co/rQPKsjjIMn
— Jordan Horrobin (@JordanHorrobin) September 1, 2023
Gus waited all night for one, and he was rewarded with this gem https://t.co/0cgWyyZvVC
— Zach Hanood (@ZachHanood) September 1, 2023
I missed Gus Johnson so much https://t.co/GOCxYv8RRj
— Anton (@antonfilms226) September 1, 2023
That's some pretty spectacular body control. https://t.co/PxrLAlqEwz
— Will Rubin (@WillCRubin) September 1, 2023
Amazing catch. And equally amazing camerawork on the broadcast. Replays galore! https://t.co/ME8cGWF1v1
— Matt Bufano (@MattBufano) September 1, 2023
One of the best catches I've seen. Football is back! https://t.co/bAr6UYNLdE
— Bryce A. Butzer (@brycebutzer) September 1, 2023
Already have a candidate for best toe drag TD catch of the year. Man, I love this sport https://t.co/jAfAS6a5az
— Mike Green (@GreenM1028) September 1, 2023
Just an absolutely remarkable catch. https://t.co/wiJ2IY3jNR
— Andrew Stem (@astem00) September 1, 2023
Okay that was just unreal so excited for this season were just getting started!!! https://t.co/nVIqBqCc7B
— Ivan Stark (@istarkhottakes) September 1, 2023
WELCOME BACK TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL https://t.co/XV7tiSwNTH
— Manav S. Bains (@manavbains1) September 1, 2023
