Little-known recruit makes big name for himself

Pinkel says Jerrell Jackson might work his way onto the gridiron this year.

By Lenny Goldman

Published Aug. 26, 2008

To beat defensive backs down the field, he must be explosive and quick, but freshman wide receiver Jerrell Jackson's real secret to success is patience.

After his junior year of high school in Texas, Jackson received zero attention from recruits, and he didn't gain much notoriety by simply matching his 14 touchdown receptions in his senior campaign.

"I was just still thinking positive," Jackson said. "Hoping whatever happens happens. When Missouri came, it was a blessing."

The two-star recruit eventually signed with MU and found himself jumbled on a depth chart filled with talented receivers.

"I've just been working hard going under the wings of the veterans," Jackson said. "Tommy Saunders, Jared Perry - that's my big brother - and J-Mac (Jeremy Maclin). They have all been taking us under their wings. We're here every day studying them plays. I just try to show it on the field."

Jackson's performance has been enough to earn him some playing time. He is one of eight true freshmen that Coach Gary Pinkel said could see playing time this season.

Neither Rolandis Woodland nor Wes Kemp, also freshmen receivers, was on that list. Yet both were ranked higher as recruits than Jackson.

Pinkel said he doesn't look at the number of stars an individual receives through the recruiting process to determine the player's value.

"That's one thing on our evaluation system we don't have, is how many stars are next to your name," he said.

With junior wide receivers Perry and Danario Alexander injured, Jackson is getting repetitions with both the first- and second-team offense.

"He's a very good athlete," Pinkel said. "He's got very good quickness and he's explosive. He made some tough catches today in traffic, which was good. He just gets better and better every day."

While the head coach doesn't like to make comparisons, he seemed to call plays for Jackson like he does for Maclin.

"He's a high level athlete," Pinkel said. "He does punt returns, kick returns, reverses. Hopefully he'll work his way in, kind of like Danario Alexander and Jared Perry did as freshmen. As the season went on, we played them more. And by the end of the season, they were making plays."

Jackson said he has every intention of making plays next week against Illinois, the first opponent of the season for the Tigers.

"I can just show them that I should have been something that I wasn't coming out of high school," he said. "I want to show everybody what I am, who I am. My high school, we wasn't a real big school. We weren't the dime of the schools in our district. I want to come out and represent for that."