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Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Next Big Thing
Eastern Oklahoma, OK
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The last player at McLain High School who made waves on the national recruiting scene was Prentiss Elliot, who starred at Oklahoma State for one year before off of the field issues de-railed his collegiate career.
The next big thing at McLain is Elliot’s younger brother Shawn Jackson, a 6-foot-0, 225-pound junior who excels on both sides of the ball for the Titans at quarterback and strong safety.
Jackson, who will follow in his brother’s footsteps as a division one player, has been able to glean some key knowledge from Elliot about football and more importantly life.
“I look up to him and I try to take after him on the field,” Jackson explained. “He is a great athlete that came through McLain. Everything I know he has been able to teach me,” Jackson continued, “Off of the field I just try to learn from his mistakes and see what he did wrong. I try to do the right thing. He has gone through some hard times, but he will get through it.”
McLain head coach Danny Daniels, who has been coaching football in Oklahoma for over 30 years, ranks Jackson alongside some of the best players that he has been able to observe. “He stacks right up there with them,” Coach Daniels said of his star’s potential. “I have seen a lot of good division one players and he is definitely division one material.”
“The main thing he brings to the table is that he knows the game of football. He is like having another coach on the field offensively and defensively. He keeps all of the other kids that have not played as much in line.”
In week three Jackson suffered a high ankle sprain shortly in to a game against the Broken Arrow junior varsity squad, but despite the pain he has pushed on and does not want to miss any time.
“I just have to get healthy and we have to get the team healthy so that we can make the playoffs,” Jackson stated. “I am about 90 percent right now. It is just one of those nagging injuries.”
“He is doing everything he can to get healthy,” Coach Daniels added. “In a better situation we would probably rest him for a couple of games.”
Jackson does not currently list any official scholarship offers, but he is already hearing from a who’s who of major programs. “Texas Tech, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas State,” Jackson said of the schools that are already tracking him.
As a sophomore Jackson racked up over 2,700 yards and scored 34 touchdowns to earn All-Metro honors from his spot at quarterback, but he believes that his future will be on the defensive side of the ball.
“Some schools say they project me as a strong safety, but I would like to play outside linebacker. I will play whatever position fits me best,” Jackson informed.
The recruiting attention is all well and good but Jackson knows he needs to continue to work hard on and off of the field to realize his dreams.
“I try to see myself in the NFL and I am going to work hard to get there. It takes hard work… It takes hard work off of the field everyday.”
Greg Powers is a Regional Recruiting Analyst for Scout.com.
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