Carmel senior Eli Jackson is a flashy player by design.

A two-way starter at wide receiver and cornerback who also returns punts, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Jackson is always in the middle of the action. He also likes to accessorize his uniform.

For the Corsairs’ game in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs in Mundelein on Saturday, Jackson wore red shoes, red gloves and a red towel.

“I like to be creative,” he said, flashing a sly smile. “You can ask anybody. I wore a Ninja Turtle suit under my practice uniform yesterday on Halloween. I just love being different.

“I thought the red would go good with the brown, but some of my coaches don’t like it. But I love it.”

Carmel senior wide receiver/safety Kai Owens said he has been playing football with Jackson since they were 8 years old. Owens said Jackson has a unique personality.

“He’s a colorful guy and is always doing something,” Owens said. “You have to keep an eye on him.”

Carmel’s Eli Jackson scores a touchdown against Normal Community during a game in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs in Mundelein on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / News-Sun)

Normal Community didn’t get the memo. Jackson made nine catches for a game-high 147 yards and three touchdowns as 14th-seeded Carmel rolled to a 60-44 win over the 19th-seeded Ironmen.

The game wasn’t as close as the final score suggests. The Corsairs (8-2), who will play at third-seeded St. Charles North (9-1) in the second round, led 53-15 in the third quarter. Normal (7-3) rallied against backups.

Carmel junior quarterback Trae Taylor, a Nebraska commit, threw for 300 yards and connected with Jackson on 26-yard, 18-yard and 31-yard touchdowns. Taylor said they’ve been friends since they were “4 or 5 years old.”

“Everybody has always seen it in him, but it was a matter of showing it,” Taylor said. “Today was a great example of that. The kid is tough. He plays both ways, but he never gets tired. He also knows as much as I do on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously, we’ve built a connection over time.”

Carmel coach Jason McKie, a former fullback for the Chicago Bears, said Jackson is a vital three-phase player. During the regular season, Jackson had 39 catches for 611 yards and four touchdowns, made an interception against Loyola, deflected four passes and averaged 16.3 yards on punt returns.

“Eli has been big for us all year playing both sides of the ball,” McKie said. “We ask him to do a lot, and he responds. He made some plays on offense and on defense today, which is consistent to what he’s done all year.”

Jackson said he “absolutely” wants to play football in college.

“He has that type of athletic ability, but it’s a matter of how hard he works,” McKie said. “The kid can achieve whatever he wants to achieve. It comes through hard work. I think whatever position he wants to play on either side of the ball, he can do it. He’s got a good personality and brings life to his team.”

Owens said the Corsairs can count on Jackson.

“He’s always been a reliable guy, especially on third downs,” Owens said. “We know we can always go to him.

“He does everything. Eli is the gadget guy. You can put him anywhere on offense, defense, running back or jet sweeps or anywhere.”

Jackson, who also plays basketball for Carmel, said playing nearly every snap doesn’t bother him.

“I’ve always been in good condition, and everybody knows me as the guy who doesn’t get tired,” he said. “I work hard to keep in condition.”

When the weather warms up, Jackson intends to play another sport: golf.

“I had a 320-yard drive down the fairway,” he said.

But Jackson and the Corsairs, who didn’t qualify for the playoffs last year, have more to accomplish this season.

“We weren’t proud to finish 3-6 and went to work literally right after the Prep Bowl,” he said. “We’ve been preparing for the playoffs since the end of last season, and now we’re here.”

Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/01/7a-football-normal-carmel-eli-jackson/