Braeden Jackson is a true freshman running back for the Iowa Hawkeyes from Ankeny, Iowa, where he attended Centennial High School. At the high school level, Jackson earned first-team all-state and all-district honors as a senior, along with two first-team all-conference selections. During his senior year, he compiled 1,964 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns, including six scores in a single game. He carried the ball 173 times for 1,402 yards with 22 rushing touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 288 yards and three scores. Jackson finished his high school career with 3,147 all-purpose yards across three seasons. He was also a standout track athlete, winning state championships in multiple events and holding a state record in the 4x100 relay at 40.13 seconds. Jackson redshirted during the 2025 season and did not appear in game action.