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Former FAMU DRS two-sport star and Marshall defensive back Chris Jackson was selected 243rd overall by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Jackson is the first Marshall player taken by the franchise, even dating back to its days as the Houston Oilers. Jackson, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, said he played special teams all four of his seasons at Marshall.
“As a player, I’m kind of a guy that does whatever needs to be done for the team, if that’s playing corner, safety, regardless of the position,” said Jackson, a 6-foot, 186-pounder.
“In college and even in high school, I played multiple positions. That’s kind of me as a player, I can do whatever the coaches need me to do. I think I am a very intelligent player when it comes to knowing the X’s and O’s and watching film and things like that. I think all of those together and my tenacity when I play the game, I got to make sure I make every play as much as possible. That’s how I am as a player.”
Jackson described his playing style as “fighting to the end of every rep.”
The defensive back started 48 games over his four years with the Thundering Herd. He’s the program’s all-time leader in pass breakups with 45. In 2019, he was named first-team All-Conference USA.
“He’s got some ball disruption. That certainly stood out,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “We had targeted him for a long time and it really worked out well. That was one that was easy for our coaches and scouts to identify, they were on the same page as far as identifying him as a player that may potentially be there late for us to pick. So, excited to get him and get to work with him.”
Jackson ended his career as one of the most decorated defensive backs in school history. He finished as Marshall’s all-time leader with 45 career pass breakups, ahead of Melvin Cunningham’s 41. Jackson’s 52 passes defended is second only to Cunningham’s 53.
As a senior, Jackson was named to Conference USA’s first-team, racking up 25 tackles, with 11 pass breakups and one interception. At season’s end, Marshall’s coaching staff gave him the Tom Stark Award for the Thundering Herd defensive player who gives his all, on and off the field.
The Tallahassee, Florida native earned all-league recognition in each of his four seasons, including an All-Freshman nod in 2016.
FAMU DRS’ Chris Jackson struck gold in the 110m hurdles in 2015.
HERD FILE: Born April 13, 1998 in Minneapolis …Full name is Christopher D’Wayne Jackson … Moved to Chicago as youngster and then to Midway, Fla., a “two-stoplight” town 13 miles west of Tallahassee … Raised by a grandmother, Delores Madison, after his mother died while he was in elementary school … Enrolled at Marshall in January 2016 after graduating from high school in 3 1/2 years … Committed on July 29 … Rated a two-star prospect by Rivals … Also had offers from Appalachian State, Florida A&M, Kent State and Troy … Had interest from Indiana, Kentucky and USF … Said longtime connection between his former high school coach, Ira Reynolds, and veteran Herd defensive coordinator and secondary coach Chuck Heater paved his way to the Herd … Was a Florida 2A all-State wide receiver in 2015 … Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds … A two-time Florida state high school track champion in the 110-meter hurdles, and a runner-up in the 300 hurdles.
