Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 23, 2019 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY ANDREW MENTOCK P rior to his last game in a Notre Dame uniform, cornerback Ben‑ nett Jackson expressed that he and some of his teammates were hoping for a bowl game hosted in a warmer climate than the Pinstripe Bowl in New York at the end of December. But ultimately, what mattered the most to Jackson was the opportunity to be with his teammates and best friends before he moved on to a ca‑ reer in the NFL. "We just wanted to go out, have another game and be able to play with each other one more time," he told reporters prior to the game. The bowl game resulted in a 29‑16 victory over Rutgers on Dec. 28, 2013. Jackson, who played all season with a torn labrum, had five tackles and one stop for a loss. What Jackson didn't know at the time is that inju‑ ries would continue to plague him for years and prevent him from mak‑ ing an NFL roster for half a decade. After falling to the sixth round in the 2014 NFL Draft, Jackson was taken by New York Giants, located close to his hometown of Hazlet, N.J., and placed on the practice squad. He made the move to safety and worked himself in a position to start in 2015, only to tear his ACL in the preseason and subsequently be re‑ leased in August 2016. Jackson kept grinding and was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens in January 2018. Once again, just before the season, he was injured, released from the team and joined the practice squad that November. "It's definitely tough mentally," Jackson said. "It was a process I had to go through that was stressful and depressing at times, but I had a good support staff." During the 2019 preseason, Jackson had another chance to make the Ra‑ vens' roster but was released due to the team's depth at safety. Only this time, he didn't have to settle for the practice squad. Instead, he was claimed by the New York Jets and immediately put on their 53‑man roster. He now gets a second chance to make his NFL de‑ but less than 45 minutes from where he grew up. "This is a blessing," he said. "It's a great opportunity and something that I've been working for. Now I got the opportunity to do it, it's pretty much what I've been working for this whole time. So my plan is to make the most of it." At the Jets' training facility in Flo‑ rham Park, N.J., he will also have a chance to rekindle a friendship with former Notre Dame safety Matthias Farley, who also recently signed with the Jets as a free agent. "We were roommates in college," Farley said of Jackson. "We had a lot of success at Notre Dame together, playing on the same side or opposite of each other in the secondary. "We've kept up with each other over the years and make an effort to be in each other's lives. It's kind of like an unforeseen dream come true to be on the team with your best friend." While Jackson is on the 53‑man roster, he does have some work to do before he makes his NFL regular‑ season debut. For the Jets' first game against the Buffalo Bills, he was put on the inactive list. But this minor setback is unlikely to impact Jackson's resolve — a trait that Farley says is rarely found to the same degree in the NFL. "Anytime you're in the league for even just a couple of years, you see guys come and go, and some guys will be out of football and kind of lose that edge or lose that mentality," Far‑ ley said. "But [Bennett] has definitely been grinding daily. No one questions his work ethic; no one questions the desire he's had this whole time. "So to see him get an opportunity and for me to be able to be a part of it, it's really something special." ✦ Bennett Jackson Finds Career And Friendship Opportunities In New York Jackson (32) and Matthias Farley (41), college roommates at Notre Dame, have been reunited in the NFL with the New York Jets. Jackson is looking to make his NFL debut after a challenging five-year post-grad journey beset by injuries. PHOTO COURTESY NEW YORK JETS NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: WEEK ONE HIGHLIGHTS • Miles Boykin (Played for Notre Dame from 2015-18), WR, Baltimore Ravens: Was only targeted once in his NFL debut, but that lone pass resulted in his first career catch and touchdown (five yards) in a 59-10 romp over the Miami Dolphins. • Will Fuller V (2013-15), WR, Houston Tex- ans: Hauled in two receptions for 69 yards in a 30-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints … Made a spectacular grab on a 54-yard bomb from quarterback DeShaun Watson. • Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Tied for the team lead in tackles with nine and broke up two passes in a 28-12 win over the Atlanta Falcons. • Stephon Tuitt (2011-13), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Credited with a team-high two tack- les for loss in a 33-3 defeat to the New England Patriots.