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Jackson, the Rams’ toughest defender
By Michael Sudhalter
Cy Ridge senior linebacker Princeton Jackson can cause problems for quarterbacks or drop back into coverage. But he also knows a thing or two about motivating his teammates through music.
“I rap before the games,” Jackson said. “We have a team rap session and I make a rap about school or anything. The (team) picks a topic, and I rap about it.”
This week, Jackson just might have to rhyme about the Rams’ (9-2) success on the field. They’ve won seven straight games entering the Class 5A Division II Regional Championship Game against Copperas Cove (11-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium.
“He’s the bell cow of our defense,” Cy Ridge football coach Gary Thiebaud said. “He’s a physical guy, he’s a good tackler and he anticipates plays well. He plays with great effort and intensity. He’s got a great motor, he gets to the football. He’s right up there with the best of them.”
Jackson is a finalist for the Touchdown Club of Houston defensive player of the year award, which will be announced on Dec. 10.
“That’s a great thing, especially with (Cy Ridge senior quarterback) Russell Shepard being nominated for offensive player of the year,” Jackson said. “We could make school history and that would be a good thing for our program.”
Jackson is a four-year varsity football player, having started for last season’s district champion Rams. Prior to that, he played Class 4A varsity football as a freshman and sophomore at Livingston High in East Texas.
Jackson moved to Houston as a junior when his mother relocated to the city for a job. He had to adjust to the increased traffic in the city, but everything else has been a smooth transition.
“I love 5A,” Jackson said. “It’s a life-changing thing. Everything – I bonded with the team and I fell right into the mix. It’s still 100 yards, it’s pretty much the same to me.”
Jackson enjoyed playing against friends from Lufkin, a town close to Livingston. Cy Ridge came from behind to defeat the Panthers, 42-32 last Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station.
“That was a great thing,” Jackson said. “They had a lot of kids I played against, and it was good to see them again. It’s sad that they lost, but it happens.”
Jackson’s keeping his options open for the future and isn’t sure whether he’ll play baseball or football in the future. He’s played both sports since he was 4.
Cy Ridge’s dominant offensive combination of Shepard (LSU commit) and running back Hasan Lipscomb (Minnesota commit) often overshadows an ever-improving defense, but that’s fine with Jackson.
“We look at the offense and try to challenge them and be better on defense, so we can get publicity like our offense gets,” Jackson said. “That’s a good thing because it makes me better playing against them, they’re talented.”
For now, he’s focused on keeping the Rams moving further ahead in the postseason. He’s motivated by several things on the field, including “the fans and the band.”
“Hitting the quarterback, that’s a great thing,” Jackson said. “With any top running back, it gives me motivation to hit him harder.”
“I rap before the games,” Jackson said. “We have a team rap session and I make a rap about school or anything. The (team) picks a topic, and I rap about it.”
This week, Jackson just might have to rhyme about the Rams’ (9-2) success on the field. They’ve won seven straight games entering the Class 5A Division II Regional Championship Game against Copperas Cove (11-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium.
“He’s the bell cow of our defense,” Cy Ridge football coach Gary Thiebaud said. “He’s a physical guy, he’s a good tackler and he anticipates plays well. He plays with great effort and intensity. He’s got a great motor, he gets to the football. He’s right up there with the best of them.”
Jackson is a finalist for the Touchdown Club of Houston defensive player of the year award, which will be announced on Dec. 10.
“That’s a great thing, especially with (Cy Ridge senior quarterback) Russell Shepard being nominated for offensive player of the year,” Jackson said. “We could make school history and that would be a good thing for our program.”
Jackson is a four-year varsity football player, having started for last season’s district champion Rams. Prior to that, he played Class 4A varsity football as a freshman and sophomore at Livingston High in East Texas.
Jackson moved to Houston as a junior when his mother relocated to the city for a job. He had to adjust to the increased traffic in the city, but everything else has been a smooth transition.
“I love 5A,” Jackson said. “It’s a life-changing thing. Everything – I bonded with the team and I fell right into the mix. It’s still 100 yards, it’s pretty much the same to me.”
Jackson enjoyed playing against friends from Lufkin, a town close to Livingston. Cy Ridge came from behind to defeat the Panthers, 42-32 last Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station.
“That was a great thing,” Jackson said. “They had a lot of kids I played against, and it was good to see them again. It’s sad that they lost, but it happens.”
Jackson’s keeping his options open for the future and isn’t sure whether he’ll play baseball or football in the future. He’s played both sports since he was 4.
Cy Ridge’s dominant offensive combination of Shepard (LSU commit) and running back Hasan Lipscomb (Minnesota commit) often overshadows an ever-improving defense, but that’s fine with Jackson.
“We look at the offense and try to challenge them and be better on defense, so we can get publicity like our offense gets,” Jackson said. “That’s a good thing because it makes me better playing against them, they’re talented.”
For now, he’s focused on keeping the Rams moving further ahead in the postseason. He’s motivated by several things on the field, including “the fans and the band.”
“Hitting the quarterback, that’s a great thing,” Jackson said. “With any top running back, it gives me motivation to hit him harder.”
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