Buffs’ Jackson making another comeback
BuffZone.com
BOULDER» Colorado’s Jaylon Jackson reached out and snagged a pass thrown by Tyler Lytle, taking it to the end zone for a touchdown.
“I was like, ‘Oh man, I’ve still got it,’” Jackson said with a smile. “That felt good. It was a confidence boost.”
Sure, the play came in a 7on-7 drill during a playerled practice over the summer, but for Jackson, it was a victory he needed.
A redshirt freshman receiver, Jackson has battled back from yet another devastating injury to keep his football dreams alive. After playing just one game in the last three seasons because of injuries, Jackson came into fall camp, which began Thursday, healthy and ready to compete for playing time.
“I feel really good,” Jackson said. “My body is starting to come back, my legs and upper body.
“I feel like I’m confident because I know I’ve been grinding and working out. I’ve been working out with Juwann (Winfree) and KD (Nixon), doing extra stuff on the side. I’m ready to just put it out on the field; put it in the game, in practice. I’m really interested to get back on the field.”
After flashing his exceptional talent as a freshman and sophomore at Cedar Hill (Texas) High School, Jackson tore the ACL in his right knee the spring before his junior season. He returned in time for the Longhorns’ playoff game, running three times and catching three passes in a 37-33 loss.
The next spring, he retore his right ACL and missed his entire senior season, but already had an offer from CU in hand.
“A lot of schools don’t always honor their offer when a kid goes through injuries like that, especially two years in a row,” Jackson said. “I was really thankful for that. I talked to (offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini) a lot, talked to (coach Mike MacIntyre) a lot, and I was really thankful that they stayed in my corner during that process.”
Jackson enrolled early at CU in January of 2017 and was doing well until the first scrimmage of fall camp last August. He already had a couple of catches during the scrimmage when he caught a short pass and got tackled as he turned up field.
“The (defensive back) came down and tackled me and my ankle got rolled up underneath him,” Jackson said. “That’s all she wrote after that.
“At first I was, ‘Oh, I’m glad it’s not my ACL.’ Then I was like, ‘Oh geez, it stills seems like it’s going to be a pretty bad injury.’”
Jackson suffered a broken fibula and dislocated ankle. Once again, he was out for the season.
Knowing he still potentially has four years of college football ahead of him, Jackson said he never entertained thoughts of giving up the game.
At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Jackson has put on 20 pounds of muscle and reduced his body fat since arriving at CU. His ACL and the muscles around it are stronger, his ankle is feeling good and Jackson could help the Buffs as a slot receiver or punt/kick returner this season.
“If he gets back out there and gets going like he can, he’s an athletic young man that can help us and make plays and be able to help us on special teams, not only as maybe a returner, but as a cover guy,” MacIntyre said.
“One thing about Jaylon, he’s got that big smile on his face no matter what he’s going through. He’s an uplifting-type person around our building.”