Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: In secondary spotlight, Jackson nears end of record-setting career
12/19/2019 7:27:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Marshall plays UCF in Monday's Gasparilla Bowl
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
TAMPA, Florida – After a road game last month, Marshall senior football player Chris Jackson made his way from the visitors' locker room to the bus, grabbing a bag of food on the way. Someone, who was making a light-hearted joke to the cornerback, mentioned the pass interference call on Jackson during the game.
Jackson quickly reminded them of what happened on the other five targets that came his way: 0 completions, 5 attempts, 0 yards.Â
But such is the life of a major college football defensive back. Every action, favorable or not, is under a microscope, much like the quarterback on the other side of the ball. It is a fact Jackson has embraced, and why he is leaving the Marshall football program with numbers few who have ever played the position here can claim.
"Anytime you play in the secondary, everybody sees what happens," said Brad Lambert, Marshall's defensive coordinator. "If there's a big play, either way, good or bad, it's highly visible by anybody. It's one of the hardest positions to play because you live on the edge.
"I played that position and I've coached it for many years, and that's the fun part about it. You have to have an edge to you. Watching Chris, he's got a great edge and he doesn't mind being one-on-one. I give him a hard time about living on that island and being by himself. He's done a really good job."
So good, in fact, that Jackson was named to the Conference USA all-conference first team at his position. Monday's game against UCF (9-3)Â in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl will be Jackson's 48th career start, the second-most by a defensive back in Herd history. The most starts at that position belongs to Melvin Cunningham with 50, and that is not the only way Jackson and Cunningham are linked.
Entering Monday's game, Jackson is the career leader in passes broken up with 45. He's ahead of Cunningham, who broke up 41 passes from 1993-96 during a Hall of Fame career. In most passes defended – interceptions plus breakups – Cunningham is still the all-time leader with 53, while Jackson has 52.
"Playing in the secondary, everybody sees you all of the time," Jackson said. "If you're beat, then everybody knows it. If you miss a play, everybody knows it. But that's one of the joys playing that position and being in the spotlight 24/7."
The native of Tallahassee, Florida, said that he doesn't let himself listen to any criticism outside the walls of the Shewey Building. His coordinator likes that about his senior leader, especially in today's environment.
"College football today, you can't touch them anymore; you can't hand fight with him; you can't battle with them," Lambert said. "They make it difficult for you to have success, but he's had his share of success and that's been fun to watch."
Jackson not only received all-conference honors, but Marshall coaches gave him the Tom Stark Award, which goes to the defensive player who gives his all on and off the field. That, Lambert said, is the perfect description for Jackson.
"He's so competitive," Lambert said. "I love him every day. Whether we're in practice or a game, you get the same guy every day. That's been the thing I've enjoyed, how competitive he is. If he gets beat or they throw a flag on him, he's right back at it."
Jackson cherishes the award from his coaches and the recognition from opposing coaches who watched him play for four seasons in Huntington. He has one more game to showcase his skills and leave his mark on the Herd program. It will be a stiff test, too, against one of the nation's most explosive offenses. UCF is ranked No. 4 nationally in total offense, behind College Football Playoff participants LSU, Clemson and Oklahoma. The Knights are also tied for No. 6 nationally in points per game at 43.0. The Knights have scored 30 or more points in 37 of the last 38 games.
"This journey has meant the world to me, and knowing you're respected by other coaches in this conference," Jackson said. "It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of recognition to be considered a good player.
"In high school, I wanted to be remembered and I wanted to be in the record books. In college, that was my goal: to be remembered where I am."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a seven-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
