Staff report
There wasn’t much good news on the football field for North Rowan last season.
Only one win ó by forfeit ó for a program that has been the county’s most consistent winner over the last 50 years.
North sophomore cornerback Darryl Jackson, who is 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds, is one of the young players who could help turn things around in 1A this fall.
If the name sounds familiar, it should. Jackson’s father goes by the same name and was Rowan County Offensive Player of the Year back-to-back in 1985-86 as a running back. When he graduated, he was second all-time in rushing yards in the county. He’s now sixth on the list with 3,128 yards. North was 18-4 during his two spectacular seasons, including a perfect regular season and an 11-1 mark in 1985.
The younger Jackson intercepted a pass against East Rowan and recovered a fumble against West Davidson last season in his first year at corner.
He’s participated in a number of combines this spring and gotten positive reviews as well as exposure.
He’s been asked to attend several invitation-only showcases and performed well in a combine at Mallard Creek High on April 11. He ran a 4.5 40-yard dash there and expects to be on the profile list for Rivals.com this year.
Jackson will head to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore tomorrow. He’s been invited to participate in the Under Armour Combine that will be held for about 200 top prospects from all over the East Coast.
“Darryl is working very hard in the classroom and weight room,” his father said. “He’s trying to lead by example.”