DeSean Jackson

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DeSean Jackson

Jackson in September 2007
Philadelphia Eagles — No. 10
Wide receiver
Date of birth: December 1, 1986
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Weight: 169 lb (77 kg)
National Football League debut
No regular season or postseason appearances
Career history
College: California
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49
 Teams:
Current status: Unsigned Draft Pick
Career highlights and awards
  • No notable achievements

DeSean Jackson (born June 10, 1986 in Long Beach, California) is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. Drafted 49th overall in the 2nd round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Collegiately, he was a receiver and punt return specialist for the California Golden Bears. He currently owns Pac-10 records for punts returned for a touchdown both in a season (four), and in a career (six)[1]. Jackson ranks third all-time at California for receiving yards with 2,423 and receiving touchdowns with 22.[1] He is sixth in receptions (162).[1] Jackson finished with 52 career plays of 20 yards or more, making up 23 percent of his 226 touches.[1]

On January 15, 2008, Jackson announced, on the deadline date, that he would enter the 2008 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jackson with the 49th overall pick (18th pick in the 2nd round) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Contents

[edit] Personal

Jackson is the son of Bill and Gayle Jackson. His older brother Byron is a former San Jose State receiver who spent two seasons on the Kansas City Chiefs developmental squad. Jackson intended to pursue a degree in social welfare at Cal.[2] It is unclear if he finished his degree before leaving for the NFL. Jackson also has family in Newton, MA, and in Rwanda, Africa.[citation needed]

[edit] High school

Jackson was regarded as one of the top wide receiver recruits in the nation coming out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School, with many collegiate football programs pursuing his services. He was named the 2004 Glenn Davis Award winner by the Los Angeles Times as Southern California's player of the year. Jackson attended the same high school as Philadelphia Phillies 2nd basemen, Chase Utley.

Jackson caught 60 passes for 1,075 yards for 15 touchdowns his senior year, leading the Jack Rabbits to a CIF Southern Section championship. He was pressed into service last minute as a defensive back in the section title game, against Los Alamitos High School, responding with two interceptions, one which he returned 68 yards for a touchdown to help fuel Long Beach Poly's 21-6 victory.

To cap off his high school career, Jackson was voted the Most Valuable Player at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, where he caught seven balls for 141 yards and passed for a 45-yard touchdown in leading the West to a 35-3 victory in a game that featured 80 of the nation's top players. However, he was also involved in an embarrassing play where he attempted to somersault for a touchdown, but landed on the one yard line. ESPN.com's Tom Lemming rated him as the number four wide receiver in the country, PrepStar selected him an All-American and a member of its Dream Team Top 100 players, and Calhisports.com voted him the 2004 Mr. Football State Player of the Year. He committed to Jeff Tedford's football program at Cal, making his announcement on Southern California's FSN West. Jackson waited until the deadline to choose between scholarship offers for California and USC.[1]

[edit] Media

On April 24th, 2008, Electronic Arts announced that Jackson would be cover athlete for the Playstion 2's version of NCAA Football 09.

[edit] College

Jackson in 2006 against Washington State
Jackson in 2006 against Washington State

[edit] 2005

In his first collegiate game against Sacramento State in 2005, Jackson scored both an offensive and special teams touchdown, returning a punt 49 yards for a score. Throughout his freshman season, Jackson spearheaded the Bears passing attack, picking up 38 receptions for 601 yards along with seven touchdowns. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark three times. In the Las Vegas Bowl game against Brigham Young University, Jackson tallied 130 yards and two scores.

[edit] 2006

Main article: 2006 California Golden Bears football team

Coming into his sophomore year with high expectations, Jackson displayed more of his talent and playmaking ability, tallying 1,060 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a constant threat to return any opponent punt into a highlight reel touchdown, taking four returns for a score and averaging 55 yards per a punt return - best in NCAA history. He was voted All Pac-10 first team as both a punt returner and a wide receiver. Jackson also garnered national recognition with selections to first team All-America by the Associated Press, Walter Camp Foundation, the Football Writers Association of America, the Sporting News and Rivals.com as a punt returner. Jackson also captured the inaugural Randy Moss Award as the top return man in the nation. In one of only two California losses in Pac-10 play, Jackson had a 95 yard punt return for a touchdown against Arizona.[1]

[edit] 2007

Main article: 2007 California Golden Bears football team

Following an excellent sophomore campaign, Jackson entered his junior season with extremely high expectations, and was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate. His season began promisingly, with a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown against Tennessee in the opening game of the season.[1] However, despite the pre-season hype, Jackson failed to improve upon his previous year's statistics. He finished the 2007 season with 65 catches for 762 yards, and scoring 6 touchdowns as a receiver.

Although his receiving stats failed to live up to pre-season expectations, Jackson still played a large role in Cal's pass offense. His presence on the field often drew special attention from opposing defenses, creating opportunities for fellow Cal wideouts Lavelle Hawkins, who enjoyed his best season, and Robert Jordan. Despite his disappointing season as a receiver, Jackson was still named an All-American as a return specialist.[1]

Jackson's disappointing 2007 statistics can perhaps be partly attributed to injury. Jackson suffered several minor injuries that limited his effectiveness at times during the season, along with a right thigh injury that forced him to miss most of the game against Washington and the Big Game against Stanford.[3][4] He also missed the first quarter of the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl for violating undisclosed team rules.[5]

[edit] Professional career

Jackson was drafted as the 49th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. The drafting of Jackson gives Donovan McNabb that 'playmaker' that he has wanted since the departure of Terrell Owens, However Jackson is penciled in as the Eagles' punt returner and could have some plays designed for him at wideout to use his great hands along with his outstanding pace. He'll compete for No. 3 receiver duties with Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, and Greg Lewis. [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Jackson Leaving Cal For NFL
  2. ^ Player Profile
  3. ^ Stanford believed it had Cal's number
  4. ^ Cal's Jackson uncertain for action Saturday
  5. ^ 2007 Armed Forces Bowl
  6. ^ [He'll compete for No. 3 duties with Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, and Greg Lewis.http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?STORY_ID=15423 Rookies Don't Play? Think Again]

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Ted Ginn, Jr.		 U.S. Army All-American Bowl MVP
2005		 Succeeded by
Chris Wells
v • d • e
Glenn Davis Award winners
1987: R. White | 1988: D. Brown | 1989: K. Copeland | 1990: J. Walsh | 1991: B. Blanton | 1992: T. Kirschke | 1993: G. Thompkins | 1994: D. McCutcheon | 1995: C. Claiborne | 1996: A. Harris | 1997: D. Foster | 1998: C. Lewis | 1999: M. Grootegoed | 2000: T. Ebell | 2001: H. Dennis | 2002: W. Lewis | 2003: B. Harwell | 2004: D. Jackson | 2005: T. Gerhart | 2006: A. Corp | 2007: M. Barkley
v • d • e
Philadelphia Eagles 2008 NFL Draft selections