DeSean Jackson Interview

DeSean Jackson may not be the prototype wide receiver when it comes to size. But his speed and athletic ability have NFL personnel taking notice. Jackson spoke to the media at the recent NFL Combine

The decision to leave Cal early…

Yeah it was a big decision for me to come out early. I had a lot to think about through the process. My family was very supportive, Coach Tedford was very supportive of my decision and I just felti had three successful years and I was ready to bring my game to the next level and compete with the best.

Devin Hester help guys like you in the draft?

Devin Hester is a great player to compare myself to but whatever I can bring to a team with my ability, that’s what I’m capable of doing.

Is your brother (Byron Jackson, played receiver for KC 92-93) still taping filming your games?

Yeah that’s kind of been key all my life, since I’ve been a youngster. My brother has been filming everything from high school games to college to things like that. It’s something I con do when I’m done a look back at all the great memories.

Impact of coming from Long Beach Poly?

Definitely come from Long Beach Poly, it’s a great group of guys coming from there. A lot of people are very supportive, coming back to Poly and giving a lot of support. When I was a freshman Herschel Dennis, Marcedes Lewis, Manny Wright, Winston Justice, all them dudes were like all stars, superstars. That was a great class for me to look up to and it gave a lot of great motivation to get to where I am today.

Ever meet Willie McGinest?

Yeah, Willie McGinest, he’s a good mentor to me. I talked to him a lot throughout the process and he supports my decision, which lets me know the right things to do.

So brother is a big help?

Definitely. He was coached by Al Saunders and Terry Shea so he’s got some good tools. I got a good chance to work with Jerry Rice over the time I’ve been preparing for the combine and he’s my mentor also. He’s been giving me a lot of good things to look up to.

What did you gain from Jerry Rice?

Jerry’s a great dude. I’m just very fortunate for me to be able to work with him. Like I say, he came on and he was just very supportive of me. Like I said, great mentor. He has all the right things to say. Basically off the field was the biggest thing that he tried to preach to me. How you treat people when you go meet people and things like that because you’ll always be able to build relationships and people will remember you.

How did working out with Rice happen?

I’m signed with the DeBartolos so that’s a team he was with. My agents just hooked me up with him and he came all the way out from San Francisco from Pensacola where I was training. Like I said it was a great opportunity for me to be able to work out with him. I worked out with him pretty often. Through this whole process I was definitely in the books with him, talking to him, just hanging out with him just trying to pick his mind and do the best things I could do and learn from him.

Everyday?

Everyday for a week and a half. I was very appreciative for him to come all the way out to Florida and put down everything he was doing and give me some key pointers.

He tell you about the hill he ran?

Yeah he did tell me about the hill. He said it takes about 15 minutes. He said he tried to get a lot of people out there to run that hill but not too many people make it through. Hopefully one day I’ll get a chance to go work out on that hill.

Did he try to get you on it?

 I’m not really training for hills right now. I’m training for my speed work and that 40 time. When I finally get ready to go to training camp and I need my endurance I’ll probably go run that hill.

What do you hope to run in the 40?

I’m trying to impress a lot of people, open up a lot of eyes. I don’t know exactly what I’m going run yet, but I do know I’m going to run a good time. I don’t know yet. It’s kind of personal. Everybody will notice on Sunday. I want to keep it to myself because I don’t want to put something out there and then not reach what I want to get. But I’m definitely going to open up some eyes with my testing time.

Do your return skills help your stock?

I consider myself a receiver first. That’s just an exception I can bring to a football team, the ability to return kicks and punt returns and just bring an electrifying air to the game.

A TD on your first catch and punt return in college - did you think college would be easy?

It was definitely tough coming out of high school and starting as a true freshman and being able to catch a touchdown a pass was thrown to me and the first time they kicked to me I was able to take it to the end zone. I’m very blessed and I have a lot of skills and I’ve definitely worked hard at a lot of things that I do. It was definitely a great opportunity for me to do that.

What did the punt return against Tennessee do for you?

That was a huge return for me. The first game of the year, Tennessee, a big time school from the SEC Conference, everybody respects them a lot. A lot was riding on that game. We went out to their home field the year previous and they kind of got us. We felt like we had to do something and my ability to make a big play like that was something I felt like I had to bring to the game. I honestly didn’t think they’d kick me the ball but they did and I got a hold of it and did the best that I could with it.

How would you feel about playing for one of the bay area teams?

The Raiders, 49ers and coming from the hometown of Oakland would be a great support to be out there. I’m friends with a lot of dudes in the NFL just being out there and there some relationships that I could take to the next level.

Weight an issue?

If there’s something I have to work on that’s something I feel I could improve on and get stronger and put a little bulk to me. But heart, dedication and my will to be great is something I have.

Have you talked to Marshawn Lynch?

Marshawn he’s a great dude, to work with, to talk to. And being at Cal the past three years with him, he was an unbelievable running back. I honestly feel like he is awesome. We talk a lot and he gives me a lot of advice about things to expect coming in.

How’s your health?

I’m 100 percent healthy. I have nothing wrong with me right now. I’m just here to workout, work hard and do my best. I’ve been working hard in Pensacola the last 4 to 5 weeks and getting myself ready for this combine.

Cal over USC out of high school. Why?

It was definitely a big decision for me coming out of high school. Having USC, obviously a great school and everybody wants to go there. But I kind of didn’t want to follow after no one else, the people that came from Poly. I kind of wanted to make my own mark. I wanted get away from home, bust out on my own, and grow up from my parents. I just wanted to leave. It was nothing against SC, I felt like I could go there and play just like could I could at any other school.

Why did you decide to leave early?

Just taking the risk of coming back, getting hurt. Like I said I had a successful three years and I felt comfortable coming out. My decision was a tough one and like I said, Coach Tedford, wanted me to come back and supported me a lot. It was just one of those situations I felt comfortable and ready to put my game on the level of all the best.

Injury risk put you over the top?

Not necessarily put it over the top. Just things to think about. I got my feedback from the NFL and I was ranked pretty high with their rankings and things like that. So it was just a great opportunity. The injury thing, that wasn’t a big deal, just something to look at.

Your size a problem?

It’s not going to hurt me. You can put on my film and actually see I play bigger than what I really am.

Did the Raiders talk to you?

I talked to a couple of scouts for the Raiders and they’re definitely a great program and I look forward to meeting with them.

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