Patrick Jackson
From NCAA College Football Information & Resource
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Patrick Jackson (born Sept. 10, 1987, in LaPlace, La.) plays running back for the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs in the NCAA college football tournament. In his three seasons at La.Tech, Jackson has steadily improved his game as evident by his increasing production year after year. In 2007, he nearly made it to the 1000-yard rushing club but came up short as the Bulldogs turned out another disappointing season with a game behind bowl eligibility record of 5-7. Nevertheless, Jackson has showcased his athletic prowess as part of both offense and special teams, producing the 10th best season in Tech history with 950 yards rushing with 8 scoring runs to improve his 3-season total to 2,161 rush yards and 21 TDs.
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[edit] Personal Life
Patrick is one of Henry and Collete Jackson's two children, the other being her sister Megan. Patrick, also known as P.J., is apparently not the only one in the clan to have interest in the gridiron as his cousin Tyson Jackson also plays collegiate football for the Louisiana State Tigers as a defensive end.
[edit] High School
Jackson played high school football at West St. John High School in Louisiana where he was, under coach Laury DuPont, a four-year letterman. Jackson was a key piece in West St.John's four consecutive District 9-2A championship run and was a heavy contributor in his junior and senior seasons when he anchored the team's ground game enroute to two straight Louisiana State 2A titles in 2003 and 2004. The three-time all-state, all-district, all-metro and all-River Parish selection stepped into the limelight in 2004 after leading the Rams to a lopsided 46-2 win over St. Helena Central in the 2004 state championship game where he scored four touchdowns and rushed for 263 yards to earn the game's Most Outstanding Player award. He ended 2004 with spectacular numbers of 3,013 yards rushing and 58 total touchdowns (53 rushing, 5 receiving---a Louisiana state record) enroute to being named as the Louisiana 2A state Most Valuable Player as well as the district and All-Metro Offensive MVP. A member of the SuperPrep All-Regional team selection, Jackson was ranked by Rivals.com as the #52 running back in the nation but only received a 1-star rating from Scout.com.
Jackson also utilized his athletic ability and speed away from the football field as part of West St.John's High School track team where he ran for the 100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters and 800-meter relay teams.
[edit] College
Among the schools that offered Jackson scholarships include Duke, Indiana, Michigan State, and Tulane, but the Edgard, Louisiana native eventually committed to Louisiana Tech.
[edit] 2005
Jackson spent most of his freshman year as part of the Bulldogs' backfield and special teams. He made his collegiate debut on the road against Florida, rushing four times for 2 yards, catching a pass for 13 yards, and returning a couple of kickoffs for 42 yards in a 3-41 loss to the Gators. He reached twin digits in carries for the first time, rushing 12 times for 62 yards and his first collegiate touchdown in a 34-14 win at home against New Mexico State. The following week, he had 14 carries for a season best 75 yards while returning a kickoff for 23 yards in a 46-14 win over Hawai'i. He reached the century mark for the first time in kick off return yardage in a loss to Nevada, returning 4 kickoffs for 108 yards while rushing 8 times for 32 yards and a TD. In a 40-14 win over North Texas, Jackson had a season high 2 scoring runs to go along with 11 carries for 44 yards. Jackson scored a couple more TDs in wins at Utah State and at Idaho, while establishing a season high of 129 yards from 4 kick-off returns against the Vandals. Despite sitting out the final game of the year, Jackson compiled 367 rushing yards and 6 TDs on 88 carries, 55 yards on 9 catches, and 471 yards on 17 kickoff returns in his first season playing 10 games as a Bulldog. He ended the season ranked No. 4 in the WAC in kick return average.
[edit] 2006
As a sophomore, Jackson saw action in 12 games for La.Tech, 11 of those in the starting line-up. He started slow in the season debut against Nebraska, only managing 43 rush yards on 9 carries while returning 3 kickoffs for 34 yards in a 10-49 loss to the Huskers. He bounced back with his first of two 100-yard games of the season, rushing for 116 yards and a TD on 23 carries in a 31-21 win over Nicholls State. Jackson's season, like his team's, was a struggle all season long as the Bulldogs only managed to win thrice, against Nicholls State, Utah State, and at North Texas. Jackson did manage to score a TD apiece in seven games and ended the year with a season best 136 rushing yards and 23 carries in a loss to New Mexico State. He also racked 103 yards and 165 yards on kickoff returns in losses to Boise State and Fresno State, including a sensational 100-yard kickoff return against FSU (first by a Tech player since Eddie Brown in 1989).
Despite a disappointing season for Tech, Jackson received several recognitions which include a spot at the All-WAC team as a return specialist (2nd team), a Louisiana Sports Writers Association all-Louisiana squad honors both as a running back and return specialist (2nd team), and an Academic All-WAC selection. He also finished the season ranked No. 3 in the WAC and No. 7 in the nation in all-purpose yards per game with 144.8, ranked No. 3 in the WAC and No. 31 in the country in yards per kick return with 24.2, and ranked No. 6 in the WAC and No. 54 in the country in rushing yards per game at 71.2. He ended 2006 with 170 carries for 854 yards and 7 TDs, 22 catches for 181 yards, and 29 kickoff returns for 702 yards and 1 TD.
[edit] 2007
In his third season, Jackson appeared in all 12 games with 11 starts. He made his season debut against Central Arkansas, rushing 21 times for 120 yards and a touchdown in the 28-7 win. The following week, he scored a pair of touchdowns (23 carries, 98 yards) and returned 163 yards on 7 kickoffs in the heartbreaking 44-45 loss against the Warriors. He caught his first career touchdown reception (5 yards) in a loss @ California, then turned out a couple of 2 touchdown games in a loss to Boise State (14 carries, 68 yards) and in the win @ Utah State (14 carries, 101 yards). He also established a career high of 155 yards rushing on 26 carries with 1 TD in a win @ Idaho.
Jackson finished the season with a single season best 940 rushing yards (10th all-time at Louisiana Tech) on 203 attempts with eight scoring runs, 31 catches, 227 receiving yards, a touchdown catch, 472 yards on 21 kickoff returns and an average of 22.5 yards per kickoff return. He also had 1,649 all-purpose yards and three 100-yard games, capping the year with All-conference team selections from the WAC and Rivals.com.
[edit] Highlights
| Patrick Jackson rushes for 98 yards and 2 TDs in a heartbreaking loss to Hawaii. |
[edit] Achievements
[edit] 2007
- CollegeFootballNews.com's #4 RB in the WAC
- CollegeFootballNews.com's #26 Player in the WAC
- CollegeFootballNews.com's #26 Player in the WAC (Preseason)
- Doak Walker Award Candidate
- Phil Steele All-WAC Second Team
- Rivals.com All-WAC Team
- WAC All-Conference Second Team (RB)
[edit] 2006
- Academic All-WAC
- Louisiana Sports Writers Association Second Team All-Louisiana (RB & RS)
- WAC All-Conference Second Team (Return Specialist)
- WAC Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. Fresno State)
