'My year': East Peoria running back makes name for himself in team record book

EAST PEORIA — All-time records weren’t even on Rafael “RJ” Jackson’s radar.

The East Peoria running back, however, entered the 2026 season on the cusp of becoming the program’s all-time leading rusher and career touchdown scorer. After his first two games, the 5-foot-8, 200-pound bruiser now holds both marks – 2,718 rushing yards and 35 TDs across four varsity campaigns.

“I didn’t even know I was close to breaking any of the records,” he said, totaling 448 yards and nine TDs off 46 carries in two games. “Growing up, being in East Peoria all my life since JFL, it’s a surreal feeling knowing that I’m the one that broke the records.

“I’ve definitely been a key to the offense more and more each year and I feel like this year is really my year where I have to take over and fill in my job especially.”

Now Jackson and the Raiders are heading into Mid-Illini Conference play with their sights set on making the newly expanded playoffs. East Peoria, which last earned a playoff berth in 2012, went 4-5 in each of the last two years.

Early projections have two-win teams projected to make the 384-team field.

“First playoff appearance would be great,” Jackson said, noting he would love to make it a deep run. “… I would do anything to be on the field with (my teammates) every Friday. Just to get another week of game time would mean the world to me.”

And he’s made sure to be the catalyst for the Raiders behind the offensive line of Cooper Wagner, Trevor Hamm, Gabe Del Toro, Aaden Hasty and Aidan Copeland. His offseason was spent improving his speed.

Jackson says his 40-yard dash time has improved from ‘high 4.7s’ to ‘low 4.6’ thanks to high-volume 10-yard and 20-yard sprints. He’s also flirting with the 1,500-pound club, achieving a 325-pound bench, a 480-pound squat and a 580-pound deadlift.

“I got a lot stronger,” the 2025 Journal Star All-Area honorable mention selection said. “I got a lot faster and a lot more conditioned. As a junior, there was a lot of times I had big runs and always got caught. … That hard work in the offseason that definitely translates to the game.”

EP coach Sam Durley says Jackson is a ‘freak in the weight room’ and has seen that increased durability and burst.

“I don’t care how good of a defensive player you are,” Durley said, “nobody is going to want to tackle him. … I know we force feed him a little bit sometimes and he gets winded and tired, but when he hits his stride and he’s healthy and not gassed, he can go.

“RJ’s just one of those guys where when he gets the ball in his hand, especially when he’s fresh early in the season, it’s hard not to keep giving him the ball. He wants every opportunity possible. He doesn’t want to come off the field.”

He does get a breather when the defense takes the field. Jackson played linebacker as a scout team player and was a second and third-string LB when practicing blitz packages.

Risking injury to his All Mid-Illini first-team player, though, is a non-starter for Durley.

“He would be a more than willing and more than capable linebacker just with how powerful he is,” the third-year coach said. “He’s just too valuable with where he’s at and we don’t want to wear him down to a nub. I think this is where he truly feels like he can just be a great athlete and go out and play football.”

As for Jackson’s future, he is currently receiving strong interest from several Division-II programs. He does hold offers from Division-II teams McKendree University and Upper Iowa.

But Jackson isn’t in a hurry to make a college decision just yet.

“I’m just waiting a little bit longer,” he said, “because I know the value that I set myself at and I really don’t want to settle for anything less. … I know I put the work in every single day and I know that the college (interest) is going to come. I just got to be patient.”

Regardless of where he ends up, Jackson will be missed on and off the field.

“It’s not just like we have him as this great football player and running back,” Durley said. “He’s a big part of our school.

“(He’s) one of those kids that as a person and as a player is going to be really tough to replace when he is gone.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: ‘My year’: East Peoria running back makes name for himself in team record book