National radar quickly spots Jackson’s talent
William Jackson III picked up his cellphone early one morning in January and noticed a bunch of missed text messages.
Family, friends, and even some people he did not know on social media, were offering congratulations.
“What are ya’ll talking about?” Jackson recalled thinking. “Did I win something?”
Turns out, a pro football website set off a buzz when, citing unnamed sources, it reported the University of Houston cornerback would skip his senior year and enter the NFL draft.
“I was sleeping,” Jackson said.
Jackson quickly dismissed the report, joined his UH teammates for the team’s offseason conditioning program and is now eager to improve his draft stock in his final season.
Jackson is rated as the top NFL prospect in the American Athletic Conference, according to SI.com. CBSSports.com has him as the seventh-best cornerback and among the top 50 prospects. Most mock drafts consider Jackson a candidate to leap from day two to first-round contention.
“I don’t like to look at those things,” Jackson said. “I had to stay for my brothers. I love those guys. I think they love me.
“If I’m good like (the draft analysts) say I am, one year shouldn’t change anything.” Strong pedigree
Jackson also said it’s a chance to fine-tune parts of his game. He gained 10 pounds in the offseason and reported to camp at 6-1, 185 pounds, the type of body that most NFL teams want for the cornerback position. That should allow him to be more physical in coverage. He has been clocked at 4.42 seconds in the 40.
Last season, his first as a full-time starter following a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College, Jackson was named secondteam All-AAC after finishing with two interceptions and second in the league with 10 pass breakups.
In his best game, Jackson held UNLV wide receiver Devante Davis, coming off a 1,300-yard season and on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, to one catch for no yards.
“I have to work on my craft some more — tackling, keeping myhips lower, stuff like that, small stuff,” Jackson said. “There’s room for improvement.”
Jackson played in singleman coverage all of last season and has earned the ultimate compliment for a player at his position: lockdown corner.
“(Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando) keeps me on the island by myself a lot,” Jackson said. “I kind of like to be one-on-one with the receiver.”
UH cornerbacks coach Jason Washington credited the school’s previous coaching staff and said Jackson has “embraced … taken it and run with it” any new teachings he has learned. After transferring before the 2013 season, Jackson found himself in the starting lineup by the second half of the season.
“It’s refreshing to come in and work with a guy that is real savvy, has played a lot of downs and is familiar with what goes on in the conference,” Washington said. “And he loves to compete.” Learning to lead
Jackson joins a veteran secondary that returns all four starters who have been largely responsible for the Cougars ranking among the nation’s leaders in turnovers the past two seasons.
If there is an area Jackson sees room for improvement, it’s becoming a more vocal presence.
“I just have to learn my leader role. I’ve never been a leader,” he said. “I’m just learning to be a leader and get the young guys on board.”
Heading into the season, Jackson is on the preseason watch list for several prominent national awards — Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back), Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award (top defensive player).
“He should be (getting the attention),” UH coach Tom Herman said.