Redhawks football team leans on Jackson for leadership

Joshua Jackson, among a handful of Southeast Missouri State football players still around from coach Tony Samuel's first recruiting class, has shown plenty of leadership during his nearly five years in the program.

The engaging Jackson also finished last season with the most production of his college career, something he hopes to continue in his final campaign.

"I feel good," the linebacker said following Saturday's scrimmage at Houck Stadium, which concluded Southeast's third week of spring practice. "I'm excited about the season."

Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound native of Baytown, Texas, has had a solid but unspectacular career at Southeast, although he ended last season with a bang in the final two games.

Making his first start of the campaign, Jackson had a team-high 12 tackles during a 49-13 rout of Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State that was Southeast's only win other than a season-opening thumping of Division II Quincy.

Southeast Missouri State linebacker Joshua Jackson runs downfield during Saturday's scrimmage at Houck Stadium. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

Jackson followed that with a team-high 10 tackles in the finale against nationally ranked Southern Illinois, a closer than expected 42-24 loss.

"That felt good," Jackson said of his late-season play. "I had to do it for myself. I needed a good season to get myself back strong after being out my second year [due to an injury].

"I took a while getting back used to the speed of the game."

Jackson, whose previous career high for tackles had been nine in the 2009 opener against Quincy, finished the year sixth on the squad with 53 tackles. The five tacklers ahead of him all started at least eight games.

"He came on real good and I think he's still headed in that direction," Samuel said.

While Samuel likes the way Jackson performed to close out last season, he would consider Jackson a valuable team member regardless of his production.

Samuel, who will be entering his fifth season at Southeast this fall, said Jackson is among the Redhawks' more popular players and among their leaders because of his personality off the field and enthusiasm on it.

"He's a great kid, very personable. He plays hard and he's a leader," Samuel said. "He's come a long way. He's so much more physically prepared since his freshman year."

Jackson quickly acknowledges that, laughing when he recalled arriving at Southeast in 2006.

"I came in at 185 pounds. Now I'm about 220 or 225," he said. "I credit it to our wonderful strength and conditioning program and the wonderful food we get."

Told that Samuel considers him one of the Redhawks' leaders, Jackson said he's not sure about that but he does believe he has a knack for motivation.

"I wouldn't say I am a team leader. Other people might think I am," said Jackson, solidly established as a starter heading into his final season. "I'm more of a motivator. What I expect of myself I expect from everybody else."

Jackson was recruited by various Division I-AA programs after his high school career in the Houston area. He said he also considered walking on at some Division I-A programs, including LSU, Boise State and North Texas.

But Jackson said his official visit to Southeast sold him on coming to Cape Girardeau.

"When I came on my visit with my brother, I fell in love with the coaching staff," Jackson said. "We sat in coach Sam's office for about an hour and I think we talked football for about three minutes. You can talk to him about anything."

Jackson hasn't regretted his decision.

"I'm more than thrilled I came here," he said. "It's a great city, a great community. Although small compared to the Houston area, I enjoy it."

Jackson rarely can be seen without a smile on his face. That's partly because of his natural personality but also partly because he said he enjoys playing football so much.

"You've got to have fun," he said. "It's business, but it's football, it's a game."

Wins have not come nearly as frequently as Jackson hoped -- Southeast's highest victory total has been four during Samuel's first four seasons -- but Jackson believes he and the other remaining members of Samuel's first recruiting class have helped lay a solid foundation.

"The last of the Mohicans," Jackson said with a grin. "I love all those guys. We've tried to turn things around, my class. We've done our best. I think we set a good example for the younger guys."

Jackson's college career got under way well in 2006 as a true freshman when he started four games and had 10 tackles.

Things got a bit bumpy the next year when Jackson had to redshirt after suffering a broken foot.

Jackson appeared in all 12 games off the bench in 2008, recording 22 tackles. He again played a backup role for most of last season before breaking into the starting lineup late.

In addition to his linebacking duties, Jackson has been a mainstay on special teams for the Redhawks. And he has delivered a host of bone-crushing hits throughout his career, including some of last year's biggest collisions.

"That's something I've always enjoyed," Jackson said. "If I go a game without one, I actually get down on myself.

"As a linebacker, you have to deliver the hits."

Jackson also has delivered off the field. He is on track to graduate in December with a sports management major and a minor in business administration.

"My ultimate goal is to be an athletic director, either on the scholastic level or in college," Jackson said. "I might go to graduate school next year and pursue a master's."

Before Jackson dedicates himself to life after football, he hopes to help lead Southeast to its first winning season since 2002. The Redhawks went just 2-9 last year but were involved in numerous close games.

"We were right there last year and I think we're growing a lot as a team," he said. "I believe this year we should be able to do what we want to do."

Noteworthy

* Southeast will finish spring drills with practices Monday, Wednesday and Friday, followed by the annual spring game at noon April 24.