The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547338
26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Although he shared it with his coach and then publicly in a press confer- ence setting, this wasn't something that needed to be said out loud. Jackson plays every down with the same inten- sity reflected in his statement. It's in his blood to be a physical, hard-nosed receiver. From the day he arrived on campus, the former three-star recruit wasn't worried about the number of receptions or yards he logged; rather, he wanted to do whatever it took to win games. Even as he has climbed the depth chart and set career highs in receptions (30), receiving yards (456) and touch- downs (6) through seven games, he con- tinues to put as much effort into run blocking as he does into route running. That, after all, was a key trait that for- mer NC State head coach Dave Doeren fell in love with when evaluating Jack- son, who initially committed to North Carolina before flipping on the first day of the early signing period, Dec. 20, 2023, out of Waxhaw (N.C.) Wedding- ton High. "What he'll do without the ball, and how he likes blocking and takes a lot of pride in being a physical wide receiver, he's a really good all-around football player that's also a tenacious competi- tor," Doeren said. "That's what I saw in high school, that's why I wanted him so bad. When I saw him play, the guy was just tenacious. "That makes him a special player." It's not a coincidence that Jackson has become one of the Wolfpack's most used players, in terms of snap counts, over the last two seasons. Run block- ing is an aspect of playing wide receiver that is more effort-based than skill. It requires someone willing to do the dirty work without much fanfare for his efforts, but Jackson doesn't shy away from doing so. Why? His father demanded that from a very early age, and he's prided himself on it ever since. "You talk to my pops, we're texting before the games and he's not talk- ing about catches or touchdowns, he's talking about pancakes. He wants to see me blocking," Jackson said. "It was al- ways about how hard I was playing and blocking. "I've had that stick with me. Even now, if he's not seeing it out there, best believe I'm getting a call after the game." WHATEVER WHATEVER IT TAKES IT TAKES NC State Wide Receiver Keenan Jackson Is Willing To Do Anything To 'Help This Team' BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN eenan Jackson recently approached NC State wide receiv- ers coach Joker Phillips for a quick conversation. Despite a red-hot start to his breakout junior season, he wanted to reiterate what his main goal is within the Wolfpack of- fense this fall. "I don't care about personal numbers or accolades," Jackson re- called telling Phillips. "I just want to know what I can do to help this offense, help this team, get better every week." K