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Daniel Jackson, a wide receiver at AMES Iowa State, never seems to get a break until it’s a bad one.
He lost his final year of high school football due to a terrifying vehicle accident, but he survived. As a Cyclone, he has sustained injuries on few occasions.
At last season’s media day, ISU head coach Matt Campbell called Jackson one of the men who embodies (the) program. However, a week later, the Cibolo, Texas, native suffered a lower leg injury during practice that ended his season.
Therefore, Jackson might be receiving a message from fate. He might be getting some unsubtle clues from Destiny.
Jackson, though, isn’t buying it.
His football aspirations will always be alive as long as he is able to run, lift, grab, and jump. Following a protracted recuperation process, he eventually got a nice break on the first two days of his sixth and last fall camp, when he caught two huge receptions.
After the first grab, I went to the sideline and thought, “Dang, there’s no other feeling like that,” Jackson recalled. His impressive sixth season might support a young but talented Cyclones receivers room. Being back on the field and playing is the best feeling in the world. You can line up in front of a man who wants to beat you and beat him.
Those words make Jackson chuckle heartily. It’s a real laugh. therapeutic. A humorous moment that recognizes that this is his final opportunity for a health-based second chance.
“I am human,” remarked Jackson. Sometimes you have those moments where you ask yourself, “Is this really for me, or should I really be playing?” However, after you get up in the morning and go to work, you are surrounded by men who encourage you. You then go out there and make a good play, and you sort of regain everything. Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, I’m going to play as long as I can, man.
In order to replace some of the enormous output that current Houston Texans Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins gave the Cyclones last season, Jackson aspires to be a crucial component of a broad pass-catching jigsaw. In order to bolster a largely unproven room that contains Brett Eskildsen, Carson Brown, and Dom Overby—all of whom wowed coaches last season—ISU also recruited dynamic transfer receivers Xavier Townsend (UCF) and Chase Sowell (East Carolina).
“The room has a lot of character,” Sowell added. Additionally, there are numerous pieces and tools that can be placed in the toolbox.
How does Jackson contribute to the fit, then? Beni Ngoyi, a former receiver who is now a cornerback, will explain.
Ngoyi stated that he is a ball player. All I can say is that. He can play the ball.
Furthermore, Jackson has had significant games and situations. He caught six passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 victory over Oklahoma State in 2023, which was his big break during a largely healthy season. However, missing the entire run of program firsts from a 7-0 start to 11 overall victories last season solidified Jackson’s determination to come back.
And to be that real ball player, running routes, making plays, and laughing all the way, not just to be on the squad.
“I want to finish my career on the field, even though it hasn’t been easy,” he remarked. And I’m going to play them if I have years left. I’m thrilled because that’s exactly the kind of guy I am.
And that brings us full circle to those first clutch catches in fall camp. Jackson’s teammates appeared much more excited to see him out there simply competing again than they were to see him make it.
That’s because Campbell noticed that they were.
Campbell, who wants to guide ISU to its seventh winning season in his ten years, remarked, “You had all our sidelines erupt.” It has been very amazing for that child to travel down that lonely, dark path and return the way he has.
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