Finding His Calling in Williamsburg: Cam Jackson’s Journey at University of the Cumberlands

“In high school, I played football with my cousins. They all got recruited to play here. I thought, ‘Y’all are so good. Why are y’all going to Cumberlands instead of a bigger school?’”

Cam Jackson, a Chattanooga native and incoming college football recruit, once had his sights set on a Division I offer. At the time, University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, was simply an afterthought.

“I was getting attention from big places. I got excited. I went on visits. The merch was insane,” he laughed. “But when it came down to it, I was just a number. They didn’t want me.”

A Different Recruiting Experience at Cumberlands Football

Enter Cumberlands.

“When I visited Cumberlands, the coaches knew me by my name,” Cam explained. “They talked to me like I was already a student like I belonged.”

For Cam, the difference in recruiting culture was immediate. Instead of being treated like a statistic, he experienced a personalized approach from the Cumberlands football coaching staff, one that emphasized relationships, belonging, and long-term development as both a student-athlete and a leader.

Suddenly, his cousins’ decisions made sense. “This place felt like home.”

Finding Community and Belonging in Williamsburg, Kentucky

Many students at University of the Cumberlands develop strong connections to campus life, academic programs, and the surrounding Williamsburg community. For Cam, that bond was immediate and lasting.

Once he committed to becoming a Patriot, he realized his time in southeastern Kentucky might extend beyond four years of college football.

“I had this joke with my mom,” he smiled. “I told her, ‘If I get up here and last two years, I might not come back home after graduation.’”

It’s officially been two years, and Cam isn’t going anywhere.

“I’ll always love home,” he said. “But I feel like God is leading me to stay here. My higher calling is to be a guidance counselor, and I’m meant to do that work in Williamsburg.”

Student-Athlete Leadership and Mentorship in the Local Community

Beyond competing on the football field, Cam is deeply involved in student life and community engagement initiatives that reflect the university’s commitment to leadership through service.

Through a partnership between the Cumberlands football team and Williamsburg Independent School, Cam volunteers weekly to mentor young men who may lack consistent support and guidance. The team members travel to the school to build relationships, offer encouragement, and lead structured activities centered on football and physical fitness.

This hands-on mentorship experience has given Cam insight into the needs of local students and strengthened his desire to pursue a career in school counseling and student support services.

Through his role, Cam has experienced first-hand the tremendous need within Cumberlands’ surrounding school systems, and he believes the area will benefit from future dedicated personnel.

“Just seeing the kids weekly, you start to learn and understand some of the things they deal with on a daily basis, and it’s rough,” he said. “There’s a real need here, and I want to pour into these students like my guidance counselors poured into me.”

A Calling Rooted in Campus Community and Service

At University of the Cumberlands, student-athletes are encouraged to grow not only in athletic performance but also in character, leadership, and community impact. Cam’s journey reflects how campus culture, mentorship opportunities, and meaningful service experiences can shape long-term purpose.

What began as a football decision evolved into something deeper: a commitment to serve, to lead, and to make a difference right here in Williamsburg.