Seamless Stardom

Jackson continues Wide Receiver U tradition

By Eddie Herz

The 6’6”, 215-pound Jackson is the best receiver in the Mountain West

An unproven wideout by the name of Warren Jackson stepped under Bryant-Denny Stadium’s dazzling lights for his fourthever collegiate contest as Colorado State faced Alabama. Later that evening, the freshman departed Crimson Tide territory with two touchdowns against the NCAA’s perennial powerhouse in his back pocket.

Granted, even in goalline scenarios, returning All-Mountain West receiver Michael Gallup rightfully absorbed plenty of Bama’s defensive attention. Nevertheless, from that moment on, it became increasingly apparent how Jackson would eventually obtain his crack atop the Rams’ reputable passcatching totem pole.

Flash forward two seasons to 2019 and the day when Jackson stood at the forefront of the position group, also known as Wide Receiver U, finally arrived. Excluding a minor injury, the California native experienced no difficulties living up to the expectations created by the program’s array of recently prosperous wideouts.

With all eyes on the towering target’s production last season, succumbing to pressure was certainly a possibility, as it is for any player in a primary role. However, Jackson’s upbringing as an underclassman—in which he operated alongside three of

CSU’s four receivers to reach the professional level since 2016—paved the way for seamless stardom.

“Just learning from all of those guys before me—Mike, Bisi (Johnson), Preston (Williams),” Jackson says. “Watching how they worked and how they took that challenge of being that guy for the team. That’s something that I wanted to continue and not let down. I was always hungry to learn and to do the things that they were doing. I would say that just my motivation and my drive really helped me out up to this point.”

He certainly kept the bar in the stratosphere upon utilizing his unfathomable catch-radius to demoralize nearly every defensive back who dared to step into the ring. Like the Rams’ receivers before him, the virtually unguardable threat established national prominence via ranking fourth in the FBS in receiving yards per game (111.9).

The only question Jackson’s breakout campaign raised? Whether or not the first-team allconference selection would stay in Fort Collins after hoarding 77 receptions for 1,119 yards in 10 dominant outings. And if individual stardom represented Jackson’s utmost priority, the California native would have immediately darted toward the NFL.

Although, the veteran didn’t stand at a crossroads for long. Jackson still had business to take care of at Canvas Stadium. Namely, in light of two consecutive losing seasons, the pro-bound talent wants to win before capping his collegiate tenure.

“Obviously, there were a lot of people talking to me like oh, you should do it, you should go,” he says. “But I wasn’t really feeling it. So, at the end of the season, I sat down and thought about it and just felt that staying here would be best for me. I want to win first. I want to leave here with

“I was always hungry to learn and to do the things that they were doing. I would say that just my motivation and my drive really helped me out up to this point.” - Warren Jackson

a winning record. Obviously, the last three or four years we weren’t doing anything good, so I wanted to accomplish all of those goals, beat all of those rivalry teams, win a Mountain West championship.”

Jackson grabbed 77 passes for 1,119 yards and 8 TDs in 2019

Finding even one selfish bone throughout Jackson’s 6-foot-6 frame is impossible. More so than to taste glory himself, the senior hopes to contribute to a 2020 turnaround to experience collective affluence among his fellow Rams.

Regardless of his ability to solely take over on any given Saturday, the wideout plays for the lettering on the front of the Rams’ green and gold jerseys—not the back.

“The camaraderie we had with each other on the bus and in the hotel and everywhere. That was something that I really enjoyed,” Jackson says. “So, I would say all of those moments combined really helped my decision. There were times where we weren’t even thinking about football. We were just all on the bus having a great time. Just talking and really getting to know each other.”

Considering Jackson returns to CSU with teamoriented objectives at the top of his agenda, he’s wasting no time enhancing his stance as one of the squad’s leaders. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic cutting the Rams’ spring training camp short after just seven practices, the wideout helped set a positive example for others by staying ahead in learning new offensive coordinator Joey Lynch’s playbook.

Amid the peak of the nation’s quarantine, he also reached out to other players, such as quarterback Patrick O’Brien, multiple times per week to maintain healthy relationships and check up on everyone’s well-being.

“Just staying ready,” Jackson says during a previous interview in May. “I’m preaching that

“Just staying ready, I’m preaching that to a lot of the guys in my room. I’m supposed to be a leader. I’m supposed to take people with me along the way, so we are working out every day. ” - Warren Jackson

to a lot of the guys in my room. I’m supposed to be a leader. I’m supposed to take people with me

along the way, so we are working out every day. We lift weights, run routes, go over the playbook, and do everything right. I would say that I’m very supportive, persistent and determined right now.”

Team chemistry and winning aside, one mustn’t forget Jackson has his eyes on improving his draft stock once the COVID19-reduced campaign presumably rolls around. The upperclassman continues focusing on his capacity to acquire big chunks of yardage after the catch as well as his overall speed while the Rams inch closer to their first fall camp under Steve Addazio’s staff.

Speaking of CSU’s new regime, it’s reasonable to ponder how Jackson will fare away from former head coach Mike Bobo’s scheme and inside a fresh offensive package. But, given the wideout’s proven knack for snagging almost any football tossed in his general direction, a possible rocky transition doesn’t particularly worry him.

Additionally, he’s steadily begun to “love the game plan and concepts” over time. Equally optimistic, Lynch figuratively licks his chops when thinking about the damage a uniquely lethal receiver like Jackson can achieve in his offense when game day is finally upon us.

“Even when he’s covered, he’s open if we locate the ball,” Lynch says. “His catch radius and ball skills are just unbelievable. The one thing I would say that really jumped out at me, though, is his ability to stop and start and his initial quickness off the line of scrimmage. He has really good feet. I call it suddenness. He is really sudden for a big, long kid. That’s something you don’t

“The one thing I would say that really jumped out at me, though, is his ability to stop and start and his initial quickness off the line of scrimmage. He has really good feet. ...That’s something you don’t fully appreciate until you see it in person.” —CSU offensive coordinator Joey Lynch on Jackson

fully appreciate until you see it in person. I kind of said wow. It hits you in the face. And we fully expect him to play his best football here as a senior.”