University of North Texas Athletics
2010 Player Preview: Jamaal Jackson
8/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Height/Weight: 5-10, 163
Class: Senior
Signed: In 2009 from Southwest Mississippi Junior College
2009 Key Stat: 5.92. That's the number of receptions per game Jackson averaged last season. That number not only led the team, it was first in the Sun Belt Conference. Jackson also ranked third in the Sun Belt in receiving yards per game (58.42) and second in kickoff return average at 27.24 yards per return.
Why he will start: Jackson was the team's game-breaker at receiver last season. He led the team in every major receiving category with 71 catches for 706 yards and six scores. Jackson also returned 17 kickoffs, one punt and totaled two carries in 2009. In all, the Amite, La. native totaled 1,171 all-purpose yards on 91 touches. The Mean Green will hope to see a spike in both numbers this year.
Why he won't start: It would take two or three newcomers or reserves morphing into Michael Crabtree to put Jackson on the bench.
Don't forget: Jackson is thought of as the fastest player on this year's team. Coming out of SW Mississippi JC, he claimed a 4.4 40-yard dash time. That speed was evident plenty of times last season, such as his 44-yard kickoff return against WKU and his 69-yard touchdown grab against Florida Atlantic.
Overall: Jackson has high expectations heading into 2010, and the nation has taken notice. Jackson nabbed a spot on the Blue Ribbon Yearbook Preseason All-Sun Belt team. Jackson needs to duplicate his 2009 production and then some for North Texas to reach its goals in 2010.
