NFL Combine lets

Jackson showcase skills
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Dexter Jackson took his share of hits while playing receiver at Appalachian State. Yet he had never been poked and prodded like he was at the NFL Combine a few weeks ago.

Jackson, who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated following his two touchdown catches in Appalachian State’s 34-32 win over Michigan last year, was the only Mountaineer to participate in the combine. He said that though it was good to have an opportunity to show his skills to hundreds of NFL coaches, scouts, and general managers, it’s not as glamorous as it may seem.

Far from it.

“It was like a meat market,” Jackson said. “The first day I got there I checked into the hotel and then went straight to the hospital. They check our eyes, did a little some blood work, then they took us in for a medical examination and some x-rays.”

Instead of big contracts, interviews with ESPN or any other big-time perks, there are trainers and doctors poking at old injuries, making sure that any knee, shoulder or ankle injury has heeled. Wince at any of the jabs and it’s back to the hospital for an MRI or any other type of way to see just how bad an injury may be.

Jackson understands the cautious nature of the NFL. Miss an injury diagnosis and it could cost them, literally, millions of dollars.

Jackson’s worst injury was an ankle sprain, so he was out of the hospital in about two hours. Others, who have a medical history, weren’t so lucky.

“They’d poke and pry you,” Jackson said. “They checked out our ankles, looking for any past history, looking and asking ‘What’s hurting now? Why didn’t you tell us about this before? Why didn’t you have this down on the report?’ It’s a big investment, but it’s like a big meat market.”

“A lot of guys had to stay there three or four hours,” Jackson added. “Some had to go back twice.”

Once Jackson was cleared physically, it was to the Indianapolis RCA Dome, where he ran two 40-yard dashes, did some agility drills and caught some passes.

Jackson skipped the weightlifting — generally players are asked to bench press 225 pounds as many times as the can — but he impressed scouts with his speed. He ran a 4.27 hand-timed 40-yard dash and a 4.37 machine-timed 40. He also impressed scouts at the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl with his route-running.

He also did something at those games he rarely did at Appalachian State, learn what the plays were in the huddle. The Mountaineers’ primary set uses four wide receivers, but no huddle.

“Dick Vermeil handed me the fattest playbook I have ever seen in my life,” Jackson said. “ Just learning the pro schemes, running from two or three receiver sets and huddling up and taking commands from the quarterbacks, just making plays.”

Just for the record, Jackson never completely forgot to huddle up, but occasionally he had to be reminded.
“Sometimes I was just so focused on them to say, ‘Let’s go, let’s go. Jet, jet, jet,’ or something like that. But for the most part I got used to huddling up, going to my spot and waiting on the cadence.”

Then there’s the psychological and intelligence tests, namely the Wonderlic test, which teams use to measure a player’s mental abilities.

“There were just tests like that and there were interviews,” Jackson said. “And there was a lot of downtime.”

Added up, Jackson hopes that it could mean that he gets selected in the NFL Draft, especially on the first day, which includes the first three rounds. He sees himself mostly as an inside slot receiver who can help teams by returning kicks.

Jackson did not return a kick for a touchdown last year, but he returned two punts for touchdowns against Gardner-Webb in a game in 2006. He said he tries to pattern his game after Santana Moss or the Carolina Panthers’ Steve Smith.

“I see myself as an inside-outside slot guy on the outside or the inside,” Jackson said. “I think I have value in the return game, so I hope that will help me out when NFL teams come looking for me.”

Jackson also was able to renew some acquaintances while at the combine. Former Michigan standout tackle Jake Long, receiver Mario Manningham, running back Mike Hart and linebacker Shawn Crable were also at the combine and complimented Jackson on the Mountaineers’ performance last Sept. 1.

“All those guys were just cool,” Jackson said. “They said we had a good team and we deserved to win the game. (They said) we outplayed them and we deserved to win.

“They were talking and Manningham said ‘That’s the spoiler. That’s the spoiler right there.’ But they were cool guys. Everybody was happy for each other to be there. We wished the best for everyone.”

Pro day is March 24 for Jackson and other Appalachian State seniors. It’s a downtime for the draft since NFL teams are active in the free-agent market.

It doesn’t mean that Jackson is in the downtime of his preparation for the draft. He’ll continue to workout until March 24, looking to build on what he did at the combine.

“I’m basically finished with classes and everything, so I’m just training and getting ready for these pro days coming up.”