A.J. Jackson Interview
Wide Receiver – California University (Pa)

By: Alex Khvatov

9/29/09

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
 

A.J. Jackson:  Right now I am 6’6” and 240 pounds.  Last time I ran a 4.5 forty.  My forty time keeps getting lower and lower.    


Alex Khvatov:  You were a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, what colleges showed interest in you?
 

A.J. Jackson:  I was supposed to go to North Carolina, but I went to Michigan State.  But I didn’t pass my SAT’s.  I had to go to a junior college in CA. 


Alex Khvatov:  Describe your junior college experience.    
 

A.J. Jackson:  When I arrived at a junior college, I was a young kid.  It was a big experience for me.  I had to learn how to cook.  I needed to take care of myself because my family was far away.  I didn’t get any financial aid.  They said that my dad made a lot of money, but my mom was only a teacher.  I was barely surviving.  I thank God that I got through it.  I had a kid at a junior college.  I was supposed to go to Ole Miss.  I had two classes that I needed to pass in order to qualify academically.  Then suddenly, my mom passed away.  I went straight home.  I was a mess for a couple of months.  I failed those two courses, and my GPA was too low to qualify academically at Ole Miss.  I had to go to Division II.

Alex Khvatov:  What made you choose a small Division II school like California University of Pennsylvania?

A.J. Jackson:  Actually, I did some research and I found that Cal U of PA was a high ranking school in Division II.  The last two years, they have gone far into the playoffs.  They needed a receiver and they threw the ball a lot.  My cousin also wound up coming to this school and that is the main reason why I came here. 

Alex Khvatov: Describe your junior season for me when your team had a 12-2 record, but finished the season with a disappointing loss in the semifinals of the playoffs.  

A.J. Jackson:  It was a good season last year.  I missed the first game because I had a hamstring injury all the way through camp.  I started off slow.  My hamstring was sore for a few games, but I played through it.  I got completely healthy around the fifth game of the season.  I wasn’t getting many catches and TD’s.  The QB wasn’t looking my way.  My cousin, who was a receiver, was the favorite target.  He made a lot of plays.  It was stressful.  I ran good routes, got wide open, and they wouldn’t throw it to me.  But I am the number one guy this year.  We had a pretty good season, but we came up short.  We went up against a team in the playoffs that was ready for us.  We saw film on these guys, and they weren’t athletic at all.  We didn’t take them seriously.  They played hard and whooped us.  This year, we should be more prepared. 

Alex Khvatov:  Have you finally found a home with the Vulcans?

A.J. Jackson:  I have found a home here.  It is a good environment for me.  It is a nice, little spot for me. 

Alex Khvatov:  Your team is on a three game winning streak right now, have you finally turned it around after a slow start to the season? 

A.J. Jackson:  Honestly, our offensive coordinator is new.  He changed it up this year.  We have the best duo of Division-II receivers in the country, but we were conservative.  Through the first two games, we ran first then threw the football.  It wasn’t getting us anywhere.  There was no chemistry.  We had two losses to show for it.  Our coordinator switched it up.  From the third game and on, we started to air the ball out.  We became a pass first team.  The offense started flowing.  We were seeing how easy it was.  The playmakers started getting the ball.  We run more option routes.  No one can guard it.  I feel that we are together now

Alex Khvatov:  You put up some solid numbers last year and this season you are the go-to-guy in the passing game, what can we expect from you the rest of the way?

A.J. Jackson:  The rest of the way, I will continue to make big plays.  I will make third down catches.  The QB looks my way on third downs and a lot of the time I deliver the first downs.  You can expect big plays and touchdowns.  I love to go and get it. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths on the football field?
 

A.J. Jackson:  Honestly, it is easy to play at this level.  I catch the ball with my hands.  I also have the speed.  I run clean routes.  But I am more of a possession guy that goes and gets it.


Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game do you need to improve upon?
 

A.J. Jackson:   Effort.  I can get down at times.  I get on cruise control.  When the ball is not coming my way, I forget that you have to block hard.  I have to stay focused.  I need to continue to play with energy. 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about your current teammate, Maryland transfer QB Josh Portis (cousin of RB Clinton Portis).  
 

A.J. Jackson:  He is definitely a great athlete.  He is also smart.  He gets down when he gets off to a bad start.  I have noticed that he takes on a leadership role when things aren’t going great, and people are pointing fingers on one another.  In the first couple of games, he would try to run when the pocket collapsed around him.  Now he looks in our direction and trusts us.  He sits back in the pocket and makes his reads.   


Alex Khvatov:  Who is the one NFL player that you would compare your game to?

A.J. Jackson:  I would compare my game to Terrell Owens.  His strengths are his stride, route running and his blocking skills.  I need to work on my routes.  I look up to him.  Plaxico Burress is another strong receiver.  He gets the ball at the highest point. 


Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your football career up to this point?

A.J. Jackson:  My best moment in DII is when I got healthy, and we played a team for the Championship last year.  We just came out and threw against this team.  I had 7 catches, 200 receiving yards and 2 TD’s.  We won the game and our division.  Thank God because it was a turning point for me. 


Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

A.J. Jackson:  I don’t have a favorite team, but I like the Steelers.  I have been in Pennsylvania for a year and a half.  They are a great team.  They are like a family.  They work and stay together.  I like their environment.  They have diehard fans.  I just love it here.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

A.J. Jackson:  It is Randy Moss.  He is my guy.  He makes plays.  He goes up and gets the football.  I idolize him.  He is older now, but he is still doing his thing.


Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about playing football?

A.J. Jackson:  I have been playing this game since I have been seven years old.  It is fun.  It is my life.  It is just a fun thing to do.  There is nothing else that I would rather do for the rest of my life.  I can play football forever.


Alex Khvatov:  What is the one thing that you treasure the most in life?

A.J. Jackson:  I am a single parent.  I take care of my two year-old son.  I look out for him, so he has a future.  He looks up to me.  He comes to all of my games.  I can be a good role model for him.  It has been hard.  I have school and football.  Then I come home to my son and take care of him.  I would prefer for him to be with his mother, but she is struggling right now.  I took on this responsibility.  It is hard for me to be without my son.  I take care of him right now.  I think a son always needs to have a dad in his life. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies? 

A.J. Jackson:  Most of the time, I spend time with my son.  I go to the movies.  I play Madden.  I don’t go to clubs.  Being a parent takes up a lot of my time.  I won’t get into trouble.  I don’t drink and I don’t smoke.  I mostly stay at home.  I am grown up.  I don’t have time to mess around right now.  That time is over. 

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, A.J. Jackson is:..

A.J. Jackson:  I am a great and dominant receiver.  I am a smart receiver.  On the field, I am a captain to my receivers.  Off-the-field, I am a father and a role model.  There are a lot of people that look up to me on my team.