Jackson followed up his breakout sophomore campaign with an even better showing in his junior season, leading WKU in tackles (122), forced fumbles (4) and quarterback hits (3). He was named first-team all-Sun Belt Conference for the second-straight season, leading the Hilltoppers in tackling on six different occasions, making him WKU’s leading tackler in 14 of the last 26 games he has played. His 17.5 tackles for loss ranked second on the team behind sack artist Quanterus Smith’s 18.5. Jackson dominated from the get-go, totaling six tackles (2.5 for loss), a sack and a forced fumble in season-opening win versus Austin Peay (09/01). He notched a team-high seven tackles at No.1 Alabama (09/08), including 1.5 tackles for loss against what was considered nation’s best offensive line. He piled up eight tackles in win at Kentucky (09/15), WKU’s first ever victory over a BCS automatic-qualifying program. Jackson tallied first double-digit tackle performance of the season at Arkansas State (09/29/12), finding the ball carrier 12 times. He recorded 12 more tackles in nationally-televised win over Troy (10/11). Jackson led the team in tackles for the third-straight game against ULM (10/20), totaling 10 tackles and a forced fumble. He posted his fourth double-digit tackling performance of the season against Middle Tennessee State (11/01), finishing the contest with 13 stops and a forced fumble. He racked up career-bests in tackles (19) and tackles for loss (4.5) versus FAU (11/10). Jackson found the ball carrier 15 more times in regular-season finale against North Texas (11/24), bringing his conference tackle total to 90. He totaled six stops in WKU’s first-ever FBS bowl appearance against Central Michigan.
Content copyright 2008. Guy Pritchard. All rights reserved.
