I don't see it as one or the other. Sometimes coaches, right or wrong, decide the best thing for a kid is take a scholarship with a smaller program and enjoy his opportunity as a student athlete.
The Jackson kid is obviously a freakish athlete, and his potential as a special teams stud seems off the wall. Couple that with the life experience, leadership potential, and a guy who has just gotten it done without excuses (all things we've been in short supply of), and I understand why he's gotten an invitation to walk on.
I agree with you that I'd like to see more of the locals get the invite to walk on, but if we are generally accepting their judgment on nearly all things from a recruiting standpoint, then why jump ship on their judgement for the walk ons?