To Kohler, the psycho mentality is more than being a reckless force in the paint; he said he wants other teams to know he’s not someone to mess with. 

“I know it's a very unique name, but I feel like that really shows who I am on the court. I never stop unless I'm about to pass out,” Kohler said. “I never stop going for boards, never stop playing as hard as I can. Giving those yells after a big play shows how much I love the game and how much I love doing what I do.”

Last year, his spunk in the paint led to emphatic slams and dependable rebounding, earning him a consistent starting spot alongside fellow big man Carson Cooper. 

The senior from American Fork, Utah, more than tripled his point total from his freshman year. In his final season wearing green and white, Kohler said he’s looking to leave his mark on the program by helping his team in any way to promise success.

“Every year, something has clicked within me that shows how grateful I am for this process,” Kohler said. “Every year, I become more and more thankful for my process and my journey. I feel like after last year, I have the chance to finally step in to be a captain and to lead these younger guys to do something that I wish I could have done as a freshman.”

Hitting the floor in all 37 games and starting in 34 last season, Kohler’s durability has become one of his calling cards. According to KenPom.com, he ranked No. 26 in the country in offensive rebound percentage and No. 27 in defensive rebound percentage. Head coach Tom Izzo praised Kohler at the team’s media day, saying the senior captain is poised for a standout season. 

“As far as Jackson Kohler, he's probably in the best shape he's been in, and that really created something good for us,” Izzo said. “He can shoot the ball, he can score it in the post – he's been one of our best rebounders, and I think we've got two really good rebounders and two good guys have been going down there.”

The other “really good rebounder,” 6-foot-11 Carson Cooper, hit the boards whenever Kohler was elsewhere on the court. Together, the two have formed an elite post tandem that Michigan State has leaned on often.

In the 2024-25 season, the pair combined for less than 13 points a game but averaged nearly as many rebounds per game with 12.7. The rebounds and aggression are historically MSU staples, and Kohler and Cooper are putting their own mark on the Spartan lineage. 

A staunch critic of the transfer portal and the modern state of college athletics, Izzo recruited talented freshmen Cam Ward and Jordan Scott. Both ranked No. 2 in their respective states, the pair is unlikely to see starting roles or substantial minutes. But they’ve already benefited from the guidance of experienced upperclassmen — most notably Jaxon Kohler.

Cooper and Kohler have made it a point to mentor freshmen Jordan Scott and Cam Ward, taking pride in setting the tone for MSU’s frontcourt.

“I’m watching them very closely, especially Cam Ward, because we’re in all the same drills together,” Kohler said. “We’re in the same spot, and I'm saying, ‘Hey, do what you wish the older guys would have done for you.’”

Throughout the summer and early practices, Scott said he’s glad he has teammates in his corner as a freshman.

“They've been here for a pretty long time, so they know all the ins and outs and everything, while I’m trying to still get acquainted,” Scott said. “[Carson] Cooper and Jaxon [Kohler] have been a great help during that time.”

MSU will face four ranked opponents before the calendar turns over, two of which are at home against Arkansas and Duke. Last year, Kohler averaged 7.7 points and 7.5 rebounds a game against ranked opponents, both a hair under his averages. MSU will face 10 ranked opponents as of the preseason AP Poll. 

It’s yet to be seen how Kohler will perform in the big games this season, but he said he knows this will be his year to step up and be a 'psycho' while simultaneously helping out the next line of Spartans. 

“For some, it's hard, but I just want to make sure that in every aspect, they can say, he's crazy, he's a psycho,” Kohler said. “I really try to embrace that because that shows I’m different than everyone else, and that's actually something that Michigan State takes a lot of pride in, being different than everybody else. That's my way of saying that I'm different, that psycho mentality.”