You can debate all you want of who the greatest Cat is, but for me, it's Justin Jackson, who retired today from the NFL.
The greatest Wildcat of all time is hanging 'em up
- Thread starter SmellyCat
- Start date
Congrats to Justin The Ball Carrier! 5 years in the League! He will retire with an NFL pension, which is a good thing.
I look forward to hearing about his next chapter. Hopefully he is involved with the program.
I look forward to hearing about his next chapter. Hopefully he is involved with the program.
Great career, looks like he made about $3.5 million.
I hope we see him follow Napoleon Harris into public office. I suspect we will. (I know, Rant Board, but I love that he’s comfortable being outspoken.)
He’s an all-time great. All that pounding he took at NU, and still built a career. He was running on empty by the time he got to the Chargers. What a Cat!
nah, he is tainted. He isn’t one of the victims, he must have been complicit.
Regardless of how you feel about him politically, a young, intelligent, outspoken, and fearless person is exactly who should be running for office.
I admire Justin Jackson greatly. He gave a tremendous amount of unpaid effort and physical sacrifice for the benefit of me and many of us fanatics. I wish him tremendous success in the future.
Has JJTBC spoken on the hazing scandal topic. Seems like he would be an ideal person to do so. Public person, big success of the program, involved during the heart of the relevant period.
If he has not, got to wonder why JJTBC wouldn’t have his boy PFs back.
If he has not, got to wonder why JJTBC wouldn’t have his boy PFs back.
I have 3 very vivid memories that I can replay in my head any time based on NU football
1. Not so good is Keyshawn Johnson cathing out after out at the Rose Bowl, more of a nightmare.
2. Darnel Autry at a game at Iowa where he turned the corner headed down the sideline and just flat out layed out an Iowa safety
3. Justin Jackson the ball carrier on a touchdown run against the Illini. where he exhibited every aspect of a ball carrier, patience, juking and jiving till he found a hole, a burst of speed to break into the secondary, strength as he broke two tackles and then athleticism as he leaped and leaned his way into the end zone...must have been 35 yards or so....
and yes he has my vote
1. Not so good is Keyshawn Johnson cathing out after out at the Rose Bowl, more of a nightmare.
2. Darnel Autry at a game at Iowa where he turned the corner headed down the sideline and just flat out layed out an Iowa safety
3. Justin Jackson the ball carrier on a touchdown run against the Illini. where he exhibited every aspect of a ball carrier, patience, juking and jiving till he found a hole, a burst of speed to break into the secondary, strength as he broke two tackles and then athleticism as he leaped and leaned his way into the end zone...must have been 35 yards or so....
and yes he has my vote
Certainly Justin Jackson had some outstanding moments for us. But if you want to talk about the greatest CAT it really has to start with Otto Graham.
Plus a few others like Ron Burton who was an All-American entered into the College Football Hall of Fame.
JJ was certainly very good, but not to the level of being the greatest CAT to ever don the Purple and White.
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The greatest ever is Pat Fitzgerald.
Grahm and Burton were true greats for what they did for NU and for their leadership in the Era they played. JJ was a special player who ran up a lot of mileage carrying his team. I would call him great but slightly below a historic level player. It may have been a TD run in an Iowa game where he willed NU to victory that I remember most. He also helped fill the student section as a fan favorite. Boo Buie the ball dribbler has a chance to be a Cat hero similar to JJ. This post helps remind me why I kept the season tickets all these years.
Think he still could have made some more noise in the league. Maybe a deep playoff run with the lions. I am sure he had his reasons so wish him the best.
Dan Campbell explains why Lions RB/KR Justin Jackson retired
Lions coach Dan Campbell talked about the surprising retirement of RB/KR Justin Jackson
sports.yahoo.com
This sounds like him as a person rather than a football player. Knowing his family makes this all the more a reflection of his persona, someone who knows where he is going and his long range plans. Congratulations to JJTBC who has a bright future ahead of him.
Dan Campbell explains why Lions RB/KR Justin Jackson retired
Lions coach Dan Campbell talked about the surprising retirement of RB/KR Justin Jackson
Surprising as he looked poised to have a nice season if he stayed healthy. I didn’t realize how effective he was at returns, but it doesn’t surprise me. Looks like Lions are as disappointed as anyone.
He’s perhaps my favorite alltime Cat for how he often carried those teams without a dominant OL. They did just enough and he always fought for extra yards.
Jackson finished fourth in the NFL in 2022 with an average kick return of 26.7 yards.
He’s perhaps my favorite alltime Cat for how he often carried those teams without a dominant OL. They did just enough and he always fought for extra yards.
Jackson finished fourth in the NFL in 2022 with an average kick return of 26.7 yards.
Does Dan Campbell speak English? His "explanation" is barely intelligibleDan Campbell explains why Lions RB/KR Justin Jackson retired
Lions coach Dan Campbell talked about the surprising retirement of RB/KR Justin Jackson
That’s called real coach speak.
NFL players love playing for him - pretty easy to see why when I watched their hard knocks. He speaks their lingo. I have a feeling he never cared much for a forty year plan when he played at A&M.
I believe it was his mother that I spoke with at one of the Spring Scrimmages although it may have been the mother of another one of our star running backs. Like many a parent concerned about the risk of injury she related that when he was playing football in high school she was hoping that would be enough. Then when he continued to play in college she hoped that would be enough. I'm not sure what she thought when he did go on to the NFL.
If indeed it was her, it looks like now she finally is getting her wish.
(The other thing I recall from that conversation were comments about how her son was doing all he could to endear himself to the Offensive Linemen to the extent that he would apparently spring to buy steaks for them.)
If indeed it was her, it looks like now she finally is getting her wish.
(The other thing I recall from that conversation were comments about how her son was doing all he could to endear himself to the Offensive Linemen to the extent that he would apparently spring to buy steaks for them.)
If I recall correctly, JJ's mother died of cancer when he was a kid, and he was raised by his father. I assume you talked with someone else's mom.
Wright you both are. I am 99% sure it was Jason Wright's mother Susan Wright. His NFL career actually exceeded Justin's by two years and he went on to become President of the Washington Commanders.
(My recollection was that the player's mom had come to visit Evanston from LA which allowed me to confirm the connection.)
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