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After a great start as a rookie during the 2018 season, Lamar Jackson has delivered several MVP-worthy performances since and his incredible spin moves have taken over Twitter.

After being under-recruited when leaving high school, he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy Award in 2016 as a college sophomore at The University of Louisville. The Baltimore Ravens drafted Jackson in 2018, and he quickly became the starting quarterback when Joe Flacco sustained a hip injury in a Pittsburgh Steelers game.

Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson | Andy Lyons

As a result of Jackson’s incredible performances and fandom, he seems to be the new face of the Ravens. Rapper Kodak Black went to his AFC Title game, where the team jokingly dubbed Black their “good luck charm.”

However, the rapper hasn’t been to many games since as he’s been in and out of jail, despite having a successful music career. Are Jackson and Black friends?

How old is Lamar Jackson?

Born Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. on January 7, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida, the football player is 22 years old. In high school, Jackson played two seasons of varsity football, where he threw for over 2,000 yards, 31 passing touchdowns, and rushed for 22 touchdowns.

His performance earned him a ranking as a four-star recruit, and he decided to take his talents to the University of Louisville.

Lamar Jackson’s Heisman-winning college career and NFL start

Jackson started as a true freshman at Louisville in 2015, where he earned the MVP title of the 2015 Music City Bowl. During his sophomore year, he set a school record for total touchdowns in a game with eight and had an incredible performance against Florida State, which put him in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

In 2016, Jackson won the Heisman over Deshaun Watson, Baker Mayfield, Jabrill Peppers, and Dede Westbrook, becoming the youngest ever to do so. After another excellent performance during his junior year, Jackson declared for the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Baltimore Ravens drafted the quarterback in the first round or 32nd overall. Jackson was named the starter for the November 18, 2018 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after Joe Flacco sustained a hip injury.

He went on to lead his team to clinch the AFC North title, although the Los Angeles Chargers ended up knocking them out of the playoffs. Jackson started the 2019 season, and he achieved a perfect passer rating, the youngest quarterback to do so, in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins.

His performance also earned him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week title. Jackson continues to shatter records including the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 200 yards and rush for more than 150 yards in a regular-season game.

Are Lamar Jackson and Kodak Black friends?

Rapper Kodak Black and Jackson attended elementary school together, and the 21-year-olds are both knew each other growing up. Black showed his support at the AFC North title game, where Jackson rushed for two touchdowns and led his team to a 26-24 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

As the quarterback ran off the field, he stopped by Black, clad in a Jackson jersey, who dapped him up. The rapper then took pictures in the locker room with Jackson and his teammates and even gave the quarterback his “1800” chain.

Jackson has also done the “Kodak bop” as a touchdown celebration in games against the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins. He’s also listed Black as a rapper he listens to before every game.

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