2026 Soccer Roster
Jersey Number 5
Cayla Jackson
- Position:
- Forward
- Height:
- 5-5
- Class:
- Junior
- Major:
- Recreation, Sport, and Tourism
- Hometown:
- Clermont, Fla.
- High School:
- East Ridge
- Prev School:
- Georgia
 2025 All-Big Ten Third Team |
Sophomore - 2025
- Third-Team All-Big Ten
- Appeared in 21 games, all as a starter
- Recorded 1278 minutes of action in her sophomore campaign...season-high 79 minutes on Oct. 30 vs. Ohio State.
- Tallied 17 points on the season (7 G, 3 A).
- Fired 30 shots with 14 on goal...her shot on goal percentage of .467
- Tied for the team lead of seven goals at the end of the season.
- Scored the first goal of the season for Illinois at UIC on August. 14.
- Scored the eventual game winning goal at Kentucky on August 31.
- Scored one goal and had two assists in the win over Valparaiso on September 7.
- Scored lone goal in the 2-1 loss at Washington on September 21.
- Record an assist in the 4-3 win over Penn State on September 25.
- Scored a goal in the 2-1 win over Maryland on Oct. 5.
- Scored a goal in the 1-0 win over Purdue on Oct. 12.
- Scored the pivotal goal to tie Michigan on Oct. 26.
FRESHMAN - 2024 (GEORGIA)
- Played in 10 matches, tallying 139 minutes.
- Scored winning goal against Illinois in collegiate debut (Sept. 5).
- Tallied three shots with one on frame.
- Named to SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.
- Named to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
- Played for Tampa Bay United ECNL and East Ridge High School.
- Ranked in IMG Top 150 rankings.
- Named to First Team ECNL in 2021-22 and Second Team ECNL in 2022-23.
- Selected to ECNL Girls National Training Camp in 2022.
- Helped lead Tampa Bay United to ECNL U16 Final Four.
- Selected to ODP and USYNT U-14, U15, and U-16 player pools.
- Twice named to Orlando Sentinel First Team All-Central Florida.
- Named to three All-Area First Teams.
- Set school records for most goals in season and career.
- Captained East Ridge for two seasons.
- Scored 46 goals with 22 assists in junior season.
- Scored 38 goals with 17 assists in sophomore season and earned district championship.
- High school class president her freshman and senior years.
- SGA member all four years...National Honor Society...debate club.
PERSONAL
- Born on March 6, 2006
- Daughter of Cedric and Sheena Jackson.
- Has one sister, Cydnie.
- Dad played football at Illinois State.
- Chose Illinois because, "it felt like home. My father went to Illinois State and this was the second time I was recruited by the Illinois, this time with a completely different staff. I also scored my first collegiate goal against Illinois and I feel that it was God's purpose for me to be here."
Illinois Soccer I NCAA Tournament Postgame Press Conference vs. Memphis 11/15/25
Monday, November 17
Illinois Soccer I Head Coach Katie Hultin Media Availability Ahead of NCCA Tournament 11/12/25
Wednesday, November 12
After 23 Years, Illinois Soccer Starts a New Chapter
Wednesday, August 06
Meet Katie Hultin: Illinois Soccer’s New Leader
Sunday, June 15
