CSU FOOTBALL: Warren Jackson, all 6-foot-6, 219 pounds of him, may be Rams’ next major threat at WR.
FORT COLLINS» Fifteen catches, 265 yards and two touchdowns.
Those are Warren Jackson’s career numbers as a wide receiver at Colorado State. Granted, he’s only been on campus a year, but despite the relative lack of production, the hype building around Jackson is starting to rival his massive 6-foot-6, 219-pound frame.
“I think he’s got a chance to be one of the all-time best receivers ever to play here,” head coach Mike Bobo said following Jackson’s four-catch, 67-yard, two-TD performance at Saturday’s scrimmage.
Bobo then pumped the brakes, following up his praise with an anecdote about how he and Jackson recently discussed the meaning of potential.
“(Our) meaning of potential is we haven’t done anything yet,” Jackson said. “So I’m working to live up to those expectations.”
Jackson first made a name for himself at CSU when he snagged a pair of short touchdowns last year at Alabama, flashing his tremendous ability to come down with 50-50 balls. After the first one, when he reached over and around future fourthround pick Anthony Averett to snag the pass from Nick Stevens, ESPN play-byplay announcer Mark Jones exclaimed “Action Jackson with the grab!”
The nickname stuck. However, he never reached the end zone again the rest of the season. He had his moments but for the most part 2017 was more of an appetizer than an entree.
Bobo’s offense demands a lot from its receivers, and there’s only so much Jackson was able to learn from the sidelines. A year later, he’s fully healthy, armed with a better grasp of the playbook and has the opportunity to become an every-down player.
In other words, Jackson is ready for action.
“He’s come out there this year with a mind-set of hey, I want to be a guy we depend on offensively. The way he’s playing, the more he’s going to be in my thought process when we devise game plans because of his ability to make plays,” Bobo said. “He’s a big target, and you can’t coach big.”