Vershan Jackson Season 1997

Honors & Awards

• Free-Agent Signee with the Seattle Seahawks (1998)
• Member of Three Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995, 1997)
• Team Co-Captain (1997)
• Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP, Coaches, 1996)

Career

Vershan Jackson ended his collegiate career appearing in 38 games, and finished with 19 catches for 305 yards and five scores. He signed a free-agency deal with the Seattle Seahawks following the 1998 NFL Draft.

1997 (Senior)

Jackson continued his role as a tight end his senior season. He played in every game, starting six (against Central Florida, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas and Colorado). Of the six games Jackson started, four were when Nebraska opened in a two-tight end formation (against Central Florida, Kansas State, Baylor and Colorado). He caught four passes for 72 yards on the year with a season-best catch of 27 yards against Kansas State. In the 1998 Orange Bowl against Tennessee, Jackson started when Nebraska opened in a two-tight end formation. He did not record any receptions.

1996 (Junior)

A converted fullback, Jackson came into his own in the second half of the 1996 season. He played in every game and started against Colorado, when NU opened in a two-tight end set. Jackson finished as the Huskers' third-leading receiver with 10 catches for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson had at least two catches in five games, with a career-best three catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns against Iowa State. His scores were on a six-yard pass and a 35-yard (career-long score) touchdown grab in the first quarter to give the Huskers 7-0 and 14-0 leads over the Cyclones. Jackson also scored against Colorado State and Kansas State. His career best in yards was 65 (on two catches) against Kansas. His career-long reception, which did not go for a touchdown, was 41 yards against Kansas. Jackson caught one nine-yard pass in the 1996 Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech.

1995 (Sophomore)

Jackson played in all 11 games as a second-team tight end and caught two passes for 13 yards, including a one-yard touchdown against top 10 Kansas in Lawrence. His other catch was a 12-yard grab against Arizona State. Jackson moved from fullback to tight end before spring ball in 1995. Jackson played in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl but did not have any receptions.

1994 (Freshman)

Jackson played in three games as a reserve fullback and rushed three times for 12 yards with a long of eight against Pacific. In that game, he carried twice for 10 yards, both career-bests at NU.

1993 (Redshirt)

A scholarship athlete, Jackson redshirted his first year in Lincoln.

Omaha South High School

One of seven Nebraska natives to sign with Nebraska in 1993, Jackson was one of four out of the Omaha metro area. A running back/outside linebacker for South High School and Coach Jack Oholendt in 1992, Jackson was named to the Lincoln Journal Star Class A first team, the Omaha World-Herald Class A first team and earned second-team OWH All-Nebraska and LJS Super-State honors as a running back. He rushed for more than 100 yards in every game, including 295 against Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson in 1992. He tallied 1,278 yards in eight games as a senior I-back and had Class A's second-best average at 159.8 yards per game. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns in the 5-4 Packers' I-formation. Midway through the 1992 season, he began playing outside linebacker. He recorded 22 tackles and returned one interception 16 yards for a touchdown. A three-year starter on defense, playing inside linebacker his first two years and outside linebacker as a senior, he played fullback in 1991. He played in the 1993 Nebraska Shrine Game. Jackson also lettered three years in track and two years in basketball.

Personal

The son of Jacquelyn Jackson, Vershan was born on Feb. 27, 1975. He served as a volunteer with the DARE Program and was a guest speaker at Springfield Platteview School.

Jackson's Career Statistics

Receiving
Year	Games	No.	Yds.	Y/R	Y/G	TDs
1993	Redshirted
1994	3/0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0
1995	11/0	2	13	6.5	1.2	1
1996	12/1	13	220	16.9	18.3	4
1997	12/6	4	72	18.0	6.0	0
Totals	38/7	19	305	16.1	8.0	5

Rushing: 3-12 in 1994, long of 8 vs. Pacific
Tackles: 2 UT, 0 AT, 2 TT in 1996

1996 Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida: Kickoff Returns 1-5
1996 Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech: Receiving 1-9
1998 Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee: Receiving, None