Prep football | Star defensive player Kwanzi Jackson withdraws from Manatee High School

BRADENTON -- Kwanzi Jackson, the most heralded defensive player in the area last year, has withdrawn from Manatee HIgh.

His father, Charles Jackson, said he and his wife decided to withdraw their son from Manatee because they believe he was not being treated fairly by the school.

Jackson was suspended last spring along with running back Johnnie Lang, the Bradenton Herald's Offensive Player of The Year, because of an alleged involvement in a burglary.

Jackson went through juvenile court, was cleared of the charges and allowed to return to the football, but Lang was not.

"There were issues that came up because Kwanzi was playing and Johnnie was not," Charles Jackson said. "A lot of people didn't like that idea and he was a target from day one when he returned to school. Initially, me and his mom were not going to let him go back because of this, but some of the coaches talked him into coming back."

Charles Jackson said his son will enroll in a private school outside of Manatee County and he wasn't sure if he would play any sports. He would not name the school.

"The first thing for Kwanzi and for us is his education," Charles Jackson said. "Quite a few college coaches said they would still offer him and if we felt our son was not getting treated fairly they understood why he would withdraw."

Jackson did not play in last week's game against Tallassee Lincoln and school officials declined to give a reason. Manatee head football coach John Booth said Wednesday that he could not comment on Jackson.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Prep football | Star defensive player Kwanzi Jackson withdraws from Manatee High School."