Marshall University Athletics
2018 Football Roster
Roster
Chris Jackson
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 188
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Tallahassee, Fla.
- High School:
- FAMU
SENIOR SEASON (2019): Ended his four-year career as one of the most decorated defensive backs in school history … Started 12 of 13 games during his senior season … Finished his career with 48 career starts, No. 14 all-time at Marshall … Ranks No. 1 in Marshall history in passes broken up with 45, one spot ahead of Melvin Cunningham (41) … Ranks No. 2 in program history in most passes defended (interceptions and passes broken up combined) with 52, one behind Melvin Cunningham for the all-time lead … Made 25 tackles with one interception and a team-high 11 pass breakups as a senior … Because of his efforts, Conference USA named the cornerback to the first team all-conference team … Coaches awarded him with the Tom Stark Award, given to the defensive player who gives his all on and off the field … Interception came at Charlotte, which included a 35-yard return … Recorded at least one pass breakup against Ohio, Cincinnati, Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, Rice, Louisiana Tech and FIU … Had three breakups at Rice and vs. FIU, both wins … Finished career with 189 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 52 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, two sacks, seven interceptions and one defensive touchdown … Selected in the seventh round – Pick 243 – by the Tennessee Titans in April’s NFL Draft.
JUNIOR SEASON (2018): One of the most experienced defenders on the team … Started all 13 games … Has started every game in which he has played during MU career … Season performance earned him all-conference recognition for the third consecutive year … Second team all-conference pick at defensive back … Finished the season with 61 tackles (40 unassisted), one interception, 15 pass breakups and one fumble recovery … Tied for fourth on the team in tackles … One of four players with at least 40 unassisted tackles … Sixth career interception came in a game against FAU, when Jackson corralled a tipped ball on a pass from FAU QB Chris Robison and returned it 21 yards … Also had three pass breakups against FAU … Tied a career high with 10 tackles in a win at Old Dominion, while recording a season-high four pass breakups … Seven tackles in a win at Miami (Ohio) … Seven tackles vs. MT … Six tackles against EKU and WKU … Five tackles at Virginia Tech … Three pass breakups against UTSA.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2017): Conference USA all-conference team honorable mention in second season … Played in 12 games, all starts … Started the first 11 games of the regular season before missing the finale with an injury … Tied for fifth on the team in tackles with 62 … Recorded 2.5 tackles for a loss and combined on a sack … Led the team with three interceptions … Also had a team-high 10 pass breakups … Recovered one fumble … Scored two touchdowns, one on special teams and one on defense … Scored a touchdown on a 72-yard interception return in the season opener win against Miami (Ohio) … Special teams touchdown came in the fourth quarter of a win against Old Dominion when he scooped up a Jaquan Yulee forced fumble while on kickoff coverage and raced 15 yards for a touchdown … Recorded a career high 10 tackles against Florida International … Had 8 tackles in the season opener vs. Miami … Six tackles in a win against Kent State … Seven tackles in a win against Cincinnati … Six tackles in a win against ODU … Five tackles at UTSA … Three tackles in the New Mexico Bowl win against Colorado State … Interceptions against Miami, Kent State and Charlotte (all wins) … Interception vs. Kent State came with a 32-yard return … Gained 4 yards on an interception return vs. Charlotte … Combined with defensive lineman Davon Durant for a sack against UTSA … Broke up two passes against Charlotte, UTSA and Colorado State.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2016): Named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team … Started all 12 games as a true freshman at cornerback … Finished with 41 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and nine pass breakups … Ranked ninth on the Herd in tackles, tied for the team lead in interceptions, tied for sixth in sacks and tied for sixth in tackles for a loss … Had a breakout game in a win against Florida Atlantic in which he had his first career interception, first career tackle for a loss and first career sacks … Also recorded an interception-TFL-sack against Charlotte … Made a season-high 8 tackles against the 49ers … Finished with two tackles for a loss against Charlotte … One of five freshman in Conference USA with at least two interceptions.
HERD FILE: Born April 13, 1998 in Minneapolis …Full name is Christopher D’Wayne Jackson … Moved to Chicago as youngster and then to Midway, Fla., a “two-stoplight” town 13 miles west of Tallahassee … Raised by a grandmother, Delores Madison, after his mother died while he was in elementary school … Enrolled at Marshall in January 2016 after graduating from high school in 3 1/2 years … Committed on July 29 … Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals … Also had offers from Appalachian State, Florida A&M, Kent State and Troy … Had interest from Indiana, Kentucky and USF … Said longtime connection between his former high school coach, Ira Reynolds, and veteran Herd defensive coordinator and secondary coach Chuck Heater paved his way to the Herd … Was a Florida 2A all-State wide receiver in 2015 … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds … A two-time Florida state high school track champion in the 110-meter hurdles, and a runner-up in the 300 hurdles.
