Huskers land R100 DB Jackson
After coming in second or third place for some late deciding recruiting targets, Nebraska landed a Rivals100 prospect on the eve of National Signing Day.
Elk Grove (Calif.) Franklin Under Armour All-American Lamar Jackson announced on Tuesday that he will be signing with the Cornhuskers.
"I trust the coaching staff and I trust the plan they have for me," the four-star cited as his main reasons for choosing NU. "They have a great fan base. Playing in front of 90,000 people, you can't beat that.
"It was the overall package with Nebraska, from the education to the football program to playing in the Big Ten. It was all just perfect."
He has known for about a week that he would be signing with the Big Red and Jackson informed the Husker coaches of his intentions.
"It probably hit me about a week ago and I told the coaches then," Jackson relayed. "Once my mom said it was OK and that she was sure about Nebraska, that's when I was sure what I wanted to do."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound defensive back was rated the No. 76 recruit in the nation overall, and the 1 safety recruit in the country by Rivals.com, but he will play cornerback for NU.
The Cornhusker coaches' plan for Jackson also includes some spot duty on offense once he familiarizes himself with NU's defensive scheme.
"Yes, that's what they said," Jackson explained. "Once I get acquainted with the defensive play book, the offensive coaches said they want me to play on offense as well. But first I need to come in and learn everything to be able to play right away, so that's what I'm looking for."
Jackson chose Nebraska over his other finalists Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Oregon and Arizona, as well as scholarship offers from scores of other college football programs.
His close relationship that he developed with the Nebraska coaching staff over the past several months was a pivotal advantage for the Huskers in landing Jackson.
NU assistant coaches Keith Williams and Brian Stewart, in particular, had personal connections with some of Jackson's family members and coaches.
"Me and Coach Stew, once he came out to meet me, we just started to get closer and closer," Jackson stated. "It got to the point where we didn't talk so much about football, but we were just building a relationship and talking in general.
"Coach Williams is also a great guy and he's from Cali, and that helps. He also coached my coach from my high school, and my coach had nothing but good things to say about him as well.
"Coach (Mike) Riley is also a great guy and he's a West Coast guy. He is so laid back and he's not about ego or anything like that. He kind of knows what he wants and how he wants his program to go."
Jackson's good friend, Beau Bisharat from Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit, will not be signing with any college tomorrow, but instead he will be taking an official visit to Lincoln this weekend to see if he will be joining Jackson at Nebraska.
"Yes, he is and he's been asking me a lot of questions about Nebraska," Jackson said. "Ever since he knew I was going to Nebraska, he's been asking me about 'Nebraska, Nebraska...' and I told him all about why I committed there. Now he's not signing on Wednesday, so we'll see what will happen.
"He plays running back and he's a hard runner. He's 6-2, 225 [pounds] and he's big and he runs hard. He runs straight downhill and he's a hell of a player and a hell of a person. That's why I'm wanting him to come out [to Nebraska] with me."
Jackson has also been keeping in regular contact with some of the Class of 2017 Calabasas players whom Nebraska is recruiting.
"Oh yeah, Darnay Holmes and Keyshawn (Johnson Jr.), they all talk to me, and they've been asking me if I'm going out to Nebraska."
Jackson is Nebraska's first Rivals100 signee since Tanner Farmer in the Class of 2014, and gives the Huskers 21 known verbal commitments heading into tomorrow's National Signing Day.
