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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Ink JUCO Standout Jackson
12/18/2009 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt announced the signing of junior college standout Damien Jackson to a national letter of intent on Friday. Jackson, a safety from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, will join the Rebels in January and have two years of eligibility remaining.
"We are very excited about Damien joining our program," Nutt said. "I want to thank Coach Steve Campbell at Mississippi Gulf Coast for allowing us to recruit his players and for the tremendous job he and his staff have done coaching them."
Jackson, a native of Pineville, La., joins the Rebels after two years at Mississippi Gulf Coast. The two-time MAC All-State pick collected 33 tackles and picked off a pass in nine games and helped the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record and a No. 8 national ranking this season.
"Damien has all the physical tools you look for in a safety," Nutt said. "He has the size to come up a strike you and can also cover you in the field. We are excited about what he will bring to our defense."
Jackson was rated the No. 12 junior college player in the country by Scout.com and No. 26 by Rivals.com As a freshman for the Bulldogs, Jackson posted 54 tackles and 6.0 TFLs. He also recorded seven interceptions, which tied for second in the nation, and earned All-Region 23 honors from the NJCAA.
As a senior at Pineville High School, Jackson was named the All-Cenla Defensive Player of the Year by the Alexandra Talk of the Town and earned first team 5A all-state honors after posting 50 tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries for the Pineville Rebels.
