#35 Greg Jackson Season 2024

1988 First-Team All-American (Gannett News Service)
1988 First-Team All-SEC (AP, Coaches)
1988 First-Team Preseason All-SEC (Birmingham Post Herald)
1986 SEC Defensive Player of the Week
1986 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week

NFL CAREER
Selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft (78th overall pick) … One of six LSU players taken in the 1989 draft, along with Eric Hill (LB, 1st rd, 10th pick, Phoenix), Ralph Norwood (OT, 2nd rd, 38th pick, Atlanta), Mike Mayes (DB, 4th rd, 106th pick, New Orleans), Ron Sancho (LB, 7th rd, 171st pick, Kansas City) and Rudy Harmon (LB, 9th rd, 251st pick, San Francisco) … Played five seasons for the Giants before finishing his last seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers … Had 32 interceptions for 329 yards in his NFL career.

LSU CAREER
A First-Team All American and First-Team All-SEC selection … Tied for the longest scoring play and the most interception return yards in school history with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Mississippi State … Holds the LSU record for the most interception return yards in one season with 219 (Seven INTs) in 1988 … Also holds the LSU record for the third most interception return yards with 260 (11 interceptions) in his LSU career … Moved from strong safety to weak safety his senior year.

SENIOR SEASON (1988)
One of the top defensive backs in the country, Jackson led the nation in interception return yards with 219 … Electrified Scott Field crowd with 100-yard interception return for a TD in LSU win at Miss. State … Two weeks later he intercepted a Terrence Jones pass and returned it 71 yards for a score in LSU’s regular season finale over Tulane … Finished season with seven interceptions, the most by an LSU player at that time since Chris Williams picked off eight in 1978 … Tied with Todd Sandroni of Ole Miss for most interceptions in the SEC senior year … Also tied with Sandroni for third most interceptions in the nation…219 interception return yards was second most in SEC history behind Joe Brodsky’s 244 yards for Florida in 1956 … His 100-yard return at Miss. State equaled that of LSU’s White Graves vs. Kentucky in 1964 … Led LSU secondary with 63 tackles (44 solos) as he started every game … All starts at weak safety except Miami game which he opened at strong safety … Was LSU’s only returning starter in secondary going into the season … Moved to weak safety senior year, his natural position, after playing two years on strong side … Interceptions came at Ohio State, vs. Auburn, two vs. Kentucky, at Miss. State, vs. Miami, vs. Tulane … High tackle game of 12 at Florida (11 solos) and one tackle for loss in that game … Totaled eight tackles each vs. A&M, at Alabama … Had three career interception returns for TDs, including one in his first collegiate start his sophomore season at Florida (1986) … Also returned punts for the Tigers, with 11 returns for 99 yards this year and a long return of 28 yards vs. Ole Miss … Had six tackles in Hall of Fame Bowl to close out career.

JUNIOR SEASON (1987)
Was the second-leading tackler among defensive backs, as he totaled 65 stops (44 solos) on the season … Had three tackles for loss (-13 yards), and tied for the team lead with five passes broken up … Enjoyed a stellar Mazda Gator Bowl, registering eight tackles (seven solos) and intercepting two passes for 91 yards in returns as the Tigers subdued South Carolina, 30-13 … Finished the regular season in a flurry, as he was credited with 33 tackles in the final three games (11 vs. Alabama, 12 vs. Mississippi State and 10 vs. Tulane) … Had a seven-yard quarterback sack against Florida and intercepted a pass (no return) against Rice … Had two pass breakups each against Cal State-Fullerton and Rice.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (1986)
Earned second-team All-Louisiana accolades from the Louisiana Sportswriters Association … Was tabbed the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his role in LSU’s road win over Florida … In that game, the first start of his career, Jackson was credited with 11 tackles, one of which was behind the line of scrimmage, and he pulled in two interceptions, the latter of which was returned 24 yards for a fourth quarter touchdown … Cited as the league’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the Tigers’ triumph at Alabama, in which he logged eight tackles, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass in the end zone … Played in every game last season, starting the last 10, including the Sugar Bowl … Also recorded eight tackles against Kentucky.

FRESHMAN SEASON (1985)
Saw extensive playing time on special teams and had nine tackles and a pass break-up as a true freshman … Played in every game … Was the “nickel” back in passing situations.

HIGH SCHOOL
A three-year letterman as a quarterback, and led American High to a 10-2 record as a senior in 1984 … A Miami Herald and Miami News all-city player in 1984 … Played at American High with LSU teammate Chris Pettaway.

PERSONAL
Born August 20, 1966, in Miami, Fla. … Earned a bachelor’s degree in communications broadcasting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2004 … Married to Dina, and the couple have three children, Jamal (football student-athlete at Appalachian State University), Jayden and Greg, Jr. … Currently the nickel back and assistant linebackers coach for the University of Wisconsin football team.

JACKSON’S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATISTICS