Janzen Jackson
Encyclopedia
Janzen Jackson was an All-SEC American football
defensive back
who played for the University of Tennessee
. Jackson was considered one of the best cornerback prospects of his high school recruiting class. He currently plays for McNeese State.
in Lafayette, Louisiana
until 2007 where his father was the head coach of the football team. There, Jackson honed his skills as a corner under his father's tutelage. After totaling 93 tackles, 5 interceptions and blocking seven kicks as a junior, he was named Class 5A All-State by the LSWA.
After his father returned to McNeese State, Jackson attended Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana
, where he made 92 tackles and intercepted 5 passes as a senior. He was also named Class 5A All-State a second time and received All-American honors by USA Today
and SuperPrep,. In addition, Jackson participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Jackson was listed as No. 2 cornerback in the 2009 class. He originally committed to LSU
on February 23, 2008, but rethought his choice on National Signing Day
2009, when he signed a national letter of intent to play football for Tennessee. Said Jackson: "Monte Kiffin
was the difference. I love Tennessee . I have known Coach Orgeron
for a while and I love him. But to realize that if you play defense at Tennessee, then you are going to know what Monte Kiffin knows is special. He invented his own defense (Tampa 2
) and has been so good for so long, and now he is going to teach me what he knows. That was just too much to pass up."
, Jackson "already covers like an SEC cornerback and hits like an SEC safety", and has a chance to lineup alongside Eric Berry
as a starter on September 5 against Western Kentucky.
Until midseason, Jackson had started all but two of the Volunteers' games and had emerged as one of the better freshman players in the Southeastern Conference
(SEC). He was suspended for the week 9 game against Memphis
for violating team rules.
On November 12, 2009, Jackson and fellow freshmen teammates Mike Edwards and Nu'Keese Richardson were charged after an armed robbery attempt at a Pilot station on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee
. Less than two weeks later, charges against Jackson were dropped because a police investigation found that he had no prior knowledge of the alleged attempted robbery. On November 24, he was reinstated to the Tennessee football team.
After recording 37 tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, Jackson was named to Rivals.com's 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team for his standout play.
As a sophomore in 2010, Jackson started all 12 regular season games and compiled 65 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack, 9 passes defended and 4 interceptions and was named to the All-SEC second team voted by the league's coaches.
On August 24, 2011, the University of Tennessee announced that Janzen Jackson was released from the football team for unspecified reasons. On August 28 Jackson is enrolled at the FCS McNeese State University
Cowboys, where his father Lance Guidry played and coached.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who played for the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. Jackson was considered one of the best cornerback prospects of his high school recruiting class. He currently plays for McNeese State.
High school career
Jackson initially attended Carencro High SchoolCarencro High School
Carencro High School is a Lafayette Parish high school located in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States. Carencro High School is one of six Lafayette Parish Public Schools. Geographically, the school is located approximately 3.5 miles north of Interstate 10 and approximately one mile west of...
in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
until 2007 where his father was the head coach of the football team. There, Jackson honed his skills as a corner under his father's tutelage. After totaling 93 tackles, 5 interceptions and blocking seven kicks as a junior, he was named Class 5A All-State by the LSWA.
After his father returned to McNeese State, Jackson attended Alfred M. Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, where he made 92 tackles and intercepted 5 passes as a senior. He was also named Class 5A All-State a second time and received All-American honors by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
and SuperPrep,. In addition, Jackson participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Jackson was listed as No. 2 cornerback in the 2009 class. He originally committed to LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
on February 23, 2008, but rethought his choice on National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
2009, when he signed a national letter of intent to play football for Tennessee. Said Jackson: "Monte Kiffin
Monte Kiffin
Monte Kiffin is an American football coach. He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history...
was the difference. I love Tennessee . I have known Coach Orgeron
Ed Orgeron
Ed Orgeron is an American football coach who is currently serving as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator for the USC Trojans. Orgeron previously served as the head football coach of the Ole Miss Rebels from 2005 to 2007...
for a while and I love him. But to realize that if you play defense at Tennessee, then you are going to know what Monte Kiffin knows is special. He invented his own defense (Tampa 2
Tampa 2
The Tampa 2 is an American football defensive strategy popularized by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Football League team in the mid 1990s-early 2000s. The Tampa 2 is typically employed out of a 4-3 defensive alignment, which consists of four linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks, and...
) and has been so good for so long, and now he is going to teach me what he knows. That was just too much to pass up."
College career
Despite Tennessee's depth in the defensive backfield, Jackson was expected to contribute as a true freshman in 2009. He arrived at UT carrying just 175 pounds on his 6-0 frame, but bulked up to 192 lbs. According to head coach Lane KiffinLane Kiffin
Lane Monte Kiffin is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans college football team. He was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers college football team, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and the offensive coordinator for the Trojans...
, Jackson "already covers like an SEC cornerback and hits like an SEC safety", and has a chance to lineup alongside Eric Berry
Eric Berry
James Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in...
as a starter on September 5 against Western Kentucky.
Until midseason, Jackson had started all but two of the Volunteers' games and had emerged as one of the better freshman players in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC). He was suspended for the week 9 game against Memphis
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
for violating team rules.
On November 12, 2009, Jackson and fellow freshmen teammates Mike Edwards and Nu'Keese Richardson were charged after an armed robbery attempt at a Pilot station on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. Less than two weeks later, charges against Jackson were dropped because a police investigation found that he had no prior knowledge of the alleged attempted robbery. On November 24, he was reinstated to the Tennessee football team.
After recording 37 tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, Jackson was named to Rivals.com's 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team for his standout play.
As a sophomore in 2010, Jackson started all 12 regular season games and compiled 65 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack, 9 passes defended and 4 interceptions and was named to the All-SEC second team voted by the league's coaches.
On August 24, 2011, the University of Tennessee announced that Janzen Jackson was released from the football team for unspecified reasons. On August 28 Jackson is enrolled at the FCS McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
Cowboys, where his father Lance Guidry played and coached.